## Corrupt Practices and Vote Buying in the Nigerian Election: A Look at the Preliminary Results My Vote Speaks (MVS), a civil society group, has alleged a "large-scale" rigging scheme in the recently concluded Nigerian presidential election. The group released a statement on Monday, citing widespread irregularities and vote buying during the vote. **Vote Buying, Intimidation:** MVS further stated that it had documented numerous cases of vote buying and intimidation of voters across the country. The group claims that voters were offered money and other inducements to cast their ballots for specific candidates. In some cases, voters were threatened with violence if they did not comply. **Falsification of Results:** The group also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the results of the election. It said that there were discrepancies between the vote counts at polling stations and the results announced by INEC. MVS called for an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities. **Call for Action:** MVS has urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action to address the allegations of rigging and vote buying. The group said that the integrity of the election must be upheld to ensure a credible outcome. It called for the prosecution of those responsible for the alleged electoral malpractices. **Reactions from Political Parties:** Representatives of the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have dismissed the allegations made by MVS. They have accused the group of trying to discredit the election and undermine the credibility of the process. **Independent Investigation:** Political analysts have stressed the need for an independent investigation into the allegations made by MVS. They said that it is essential to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and to restore public confidence in the results. **Conclusion:** The allegations made by MVS have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the Nigerian presidential election. It remains to be seen whether the government will take action to address the allegations and ensure a credible outcome. The outcome of any investigation into these allegations will have significant implications for the future of democracy in Nigeria.
