A former Labour Party governorship candidate, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has attributed his loss in the November 11, 2023 Bayelsa election to cash shortages and poor campaign funding. He expressed deep disappointment that voters accepted amounts as low as N5,000 to vote against him, undermining the dream of a people-oriented government for Bayelsa.
Eradiri voiced his frustration at a town hall organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students for Youths and civil society organizations, held on the eve of the nationwide hunger protest in Abuja on Thursday. He shared that money politics have overshadowed the electoral process in the country, and his loss has left a lasting scar on his view of Nigerian politics.
Governor Douye Diri was re-elected, securing 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 110,108 votes. Eradiri came third with 905 votes, a result he has rejected and challenged as neither free nor fair.
In his speech, Eradiri emphasized the need to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration despite the challenges it faces over its economic policies. He lamented the prevalence of money politics, stating, “To win an election in Nigeria is not easy. If I can’t raise enough funds ahead of the 2027 election, I won’t contest again. Money dealt with me in the last election.”
Reflecting on his campaign, he said, “I went to every community, pleading for a change from the old way of governance. The same people took N20,000, N30,000, N40,000, and as little as N5,000 to vote against me. Now, they are calling me to give them money. How is that possible?”
He called for patience and support for President Tinubu, acknowledging that the president’s team faces internal challenges, but stressed the importance of giving him time to address the nation’s issues.
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