The Anglican Bishop of Ihiala Diocese, in Anambra State, Rt. Rev. Israel Okoye, has cautioned politicians against exploiting the vulnerability of voters for selfish electoral gains.
He warned that such acts attract grave repercussions and urged politicians to desist from them.
Speaking during his presidential charge at the third session of the fifth Synod of the Diocese, themed “Fear Not,” Bishop Okoye condemned what he described as the “use and dump” attitude of politicians towards desperate and impoverished voters.
He lamented that rising poverty, unemployment, parochialism, and frustration, especially during the electoral process, remain an ill wind that benefits no one.
The Bishop, therefore, urged candidates in the forthcoming November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid what he called “hypocritical heroic songs.”
“Preparations for the election of the governor of Anambra State on November 8, 2025, are on course,” he said.
“In democracies, election periods provide the electorate with an opportunity to interact with candidates and assess their manifestos. It is a time to determine who is best equipped to advance the cause of development in the interest of citizens.”
Bishop Okoye, however, expressed concern over the growing trend of populating campaign venues with rented crowds and the buying of votes.
“Desperate politicians and their allies exploit widespread unemployment and hunger to turn vulnerable members of the electorate into political objects — purchased, used for a purpose, and discarded after elections,” he lamented.
“That inhuman practice, disguised as electioneering politics, is a deliberate dehumanisation of citizens.
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“People who sell their votes for as little as ₦2,000 or less have become political toys. Such individuals often do not care whether their votes count or not.”
He urged all candidates to remain focused on issues that affect the people rather than indulging in sycophancy or manipulation.
“Those who sing hypocritical heroic songs for politicians do so at the expense of the people’s wellbeing and ultimately subvert the future of the populace,” he warned.
“We call on candidates, their supporters, and anyone who trades their voter’s card or public office for monetary gain to be mindful of the repercussions of their actions. No sensible person can afford to supervise his own liquidation.”
Bishop Okoye concluded by reminding voters that the November 8 election represents a choice between progress and retrogression.
“We have the option to choose the best candidates through rational judgment or to embrace contraction and woes. God forbid that we allow the pittances of electoral campaigns to rob us of a brighter future,” he declared.