Anglican Bishop Professor Israel Kelue Okoye of the Ihiala Diocese has issued a sharp warning to Anambra voters against selling their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for financial gain ahead of the state’s governorship election on November 8, 2025.
Speaking at a Synod, the cleric cautioned the electorate that turning their votes into commodities is equivalent to “supervis[ing] his own liquidation,” urging them to consider the serious consequences of such actions.
Bishop Okoye strongly condemned the disturbing trend where “desperate politicians” exploit the widespread unemployment and hunger in the state by renting crowds and paying for votes. He described this practice as dehumanizing the electorate, turning vulnerable citizens into “political objects” to be purchased, used, and discarded after the election.
The Bishop also expressed “utter dismay” at the frequent defection of elected officials—including governors and legislators—between political parties, calling it a “slap on the citizens” who voted them into office under a specific platform.
He concluded by urging all candidates to engage in issue-based campaigns, rather than relying on empty, “hypocritical heroic songs” that prioritize individual ambitions over the genuine welfare of the people.
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