By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra State election, Ozo Jeff Nweke, has issued a strong warning to voters against trading their ballots for cash or material inducements, cautioning that such acts would mortgage the state’s future and entrench corrupt leadership.
Speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at Hear the Word of God By Fire Ministry in Awka, the state capital, Nweke said the coming election presented a critical opportunity for Anambra residents to chart a new course for the state’s governance.
He urged Christians to take the lead in exposing societal ills, acting as moral compasses and role models in both politics and community life. According to him, the church is “an integral part of society” and carries a divine responsibility to sensitise the electorate about the dangers of selling their conscience.
“This election period, politicians will come with cash offers — ₦5,000, ₦1 million — but remember, it’s momentary,” Nweke said. “Any money you collect means you’ve taken your share of roads, hospitals, schools, and security in advance. You lose the moral right to challenge leaders when they fail. The money may last a day, but the consequences will haunt you for four years or more.”
He described vote-buying as a “greatest obstacle to good governance,” explaining that funds spent on securing votes are often recovered by politicians through diversion of public resources, leaving little for infrastructural development and social welfare.
Drawing from biblical examples, Nweke likened the courage needed to confront corrupt systems to that of Moses, who stood before Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites from bondage. He urged Christians to emulate such fearlessness in holding leaders accountable and challenging injustice.
“God is telling us not to be afraid to challenge the order of leadership when things are going wrong. Every four years, we are given the power to decide the direction of governance. If we waste it by voting wrongly for personal gain, we become accomplices in our suffering,” he declared.
He further warned that political apathy and the failure to register as voters were forms of self-disempowerment. “You cannot claim to support a candidate and not have a Permanent Voter Card. Without it, you’re not part of the decision-making process, and you forfeit the chance to enthrone populist governance in Anambra State.”
Nweke emphasised that the church must not be detached from the political process. Instead, it should actively mobilise members to participate in elections, enlighten them about their civic duties, and guide them toward choosing leaders who embody empathy, competence, and service.
“The church has a divine duty to ensure Christians uphold values and understand that dividends of democracy only come when we participate actively. They must be part of the conversations, the voting, and the accountability process,” he noted.
While making his appeal to voters, Nweke also addressed fellow political actors, urging them to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and personal attacks during campaigns.
He stressed that political engagement should focus on presenting clear policies and development strategies, rather than trading insults.
“Derogatory words and name-calling do not solve problems. They lower the tone of political discourse and distract from the urgent issues facing our people — insecurity, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and infrastructural decay. Let us set an example of mature, ideas-driven politics,” he said.
According to Nweke, Anambra’s November 8 election is not just about choosing a governor but about deciding whether the state will continue on a path of unfulfilled promises or embrace a leadership committed to equitable development and social justice.
He warned that a wrong choice at the polls could “spell doom” for the state, stalling progress in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, road infrastructure, electricity, and security.
Reiterating his pledge to run an accountable, transparent government if elected, the AA candidate promised to focus on grassroots development, empowerment of the youth, and equitable distribution of resources across all communities.
“As a people, we must reject any attempt to buy our collective future. Anambra has too much potential to be held hostage by selfish politics. The power to change our story is in our hands — let’s use it wisely,” he concluded.
