Yusuf Dantalle, National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has urged Nigerians to vote for candidates of their choice and reject vote buying, which he described as “peanut or that evil called vote buying.” Speaking on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, monitored by a correspondent in Abeokuta, Dantalle emphasized that citizens should not trade their future for short-term financial gain. He warned that vote buying remains one of Nigeria’s most dangerous threats to democratic integrity and urged voters to act with conscience and responsibility.
Dantalle stressed that while individuals may be pressured to accept bribes, they must still do what is right. “Elect who you want. Reject peanuts or that evil called vote buying, if they give you and you are forced to take, take, but do what is right,” he said. His remarks come amid growing concerns over electoral integrity and the rising prevalence of financial inducements during election periods across Nigeria. He called on citizens to uphold democratic values and ensure that their votes reflect genuine preference, not coercion or corruption.
While expressing sympathy for President Bola Tinubu, Dantalle acknowledged the challenges facing the administration. He described Tinubu’s reform agenda as well-intentioned but constrained by deep-rooted systemic inefficiencies and institutional weaknesses. “I sympathise with the president. He is doing his best to fix Nigeria,” Dantalle said, but he added that Nigerians are currently suffering in a very terrible way. He linked the economic hardship to worsening insecurity, arguing that the expected benefits of key reforms such as subsidy removal and exchange rate unification have not yet translated into improved living conditions for the average citizen.
When asked if the APM would reverse these reforms if it came to power, Dantalle rejected a simplistic approach. He explained that the party’s vision is to “reset Nigeria,” a concept that goes beyond economic adjustments. According to him, resetting the nation requires a fundamental re-evaluation of national values, institutions, and governance culture. “We have to look at the entire value system,” he said. He pointed to insecurity as a direct result of neglect and exclusion, stressing that if citizens feel they truly own Nigeria, they would be less likely to destroy it.
Dantalle’s comments highlight the growing demand for systemic change in Nigeria, where economic reforms are being tested against the backdrop of public discontent and security challenges. His call for a national reset underscores the need for inclusive governance and citizen ownership of the country’s future. As Nigeria prepares for upcoming elections, his message serves as a reminder that democracy thrives not just on votes, but on values.
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