By Michael Oche
The Galleon Bay Deck of the National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as Pyrates Confraternity, has called for stronger action against vote buying ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the practice threatens the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Deck said democracy could not thrive when votes were treated as commodities to be bought and sold, stressing that citizens must be allowed to freely choose their leaders without financial inducement, intimidation or other forms of pressure.
In a statement signed by its Capoon, Barrister Emmanuel Adie, the Galleon Bay Deck said vote buying undermines the power of citizens to determine who governs them and weakens the ability of voters to demand accountability from elected officials.
According to the Association, when voters are induced with money or other material benefits, elections risk becoming transactions rather than a genuine expression of the people’s will.
It noted that the country’s economic difficulties could make cash offers particularly attractive to voters struggling to meet their basic needs, but warned that political actors should not exploit such vulnerabilities for electoral advantage.
The Deck said the consequences of vote buying went beyond the election period, arguing that candidates who spend huge sums to secure votes could be tempted to prioritise recovering their electoral expenditure after assuming office rather than delivering on their responsibilities to the electorate.
It said such a situation could ultimately affect the provision of essential services and infrastructure, including quality education, healthcare, roads, employment opportunities and security.
Mr Adie therefore urged political parties and candidates to focus on presenting credible programmes and allowing voters to make informed choices based on competence, records and proposed policies rather than financial inducements.
He also called on electoral and security agencies to take reports of vote buying seriously and investigate and prosecute electoral offences in accordance with the law.
The Deck stressed that enforcement must be impartial and apply to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of their political influence or affiliations.
It further urged political parties to take responsibility for the conduct of their members and supporters, particularly during campaigns and at polling units.
The Galleon Bay Deck encouraged voters to protect the value of their ballots by assessing candidates based on their records, character, programmes and capacity to address the challenges confronting their communities.
It said citizens should be able to cast their votes freely and confidently without being subjected to intimidation, coercion or inducement.
The group maintained that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the conduct of polling and the collation of results but also on the political environment created in the months leading to election day.
According to the Deck, preventing vote buying requires collective action involving voters, political parties, candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
It reaffirmed the National Association of Seadogs’ commitment to social justice, democratic accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights, calling on Nigerians to resist practices that diminish the value of their votes.
The Deck said the ballot should remain an instrument through which citizens freely determine their political future, rather than a commodity that can be purchased by the highest bidder.
