Vote Buying and 2023 General Elections: Implications For Public Service Delivery In Ebonyi State

Vote buying in Nigeria election has been a re-occurring phenomenon. However, its implication to public service delivery have been under reported. This study sought to know the extent of vote buying during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State, the method employed by politicians to buy votes in Ebonyi State during the 2023 gubernatorial election and the extent of 2023 electoral outcome in Ebonyi State enhanced public service delivery. Theoretically, this study is anchored on clientalism. The study employed a descriptive survey research design using a four-stage random sampling technique was used to select respondents for this study, statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 20) was used to code data collected. processed through the use of quantitative method of analyses. The study affirm that vote buying was prevalent during 2023 general election in Ebonyi State and that the practise has brought mistrust in the governance system, thus relegating the true wishes and desires of the people to the cruelty of monetary inducement. To minimize vote buying, voter’s education and enlightenment, improved condition of public services and infrastructure, reduced cost of farm input and seedlings including investment in basic health services and fulfilled election promises was recommended.