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Ken Paxton’s Vote Harvesting Investigation In South Texas Raises Concerns Over Politiqueras
This week, Filomena Leo found herself reflecting on her late husband, William “Billy” Leo, and the impact he had on their community. As a former mayor of La Joya, a small town in the Rio Grande Valley, and Hidalgo County clerk, Billy Leo dedicated his life to public service and civic engagement. His legacy includes a strong emphasis on absentee voting, which he championed since the mid-1980s.
To enhance voter turnout, Billy Leo employed campaign workers to assist elderly residents in casting their votes by mail. These workers became known locally as “politiqueras.” However, Leo distanced himself from this label due to its negative connotations, particularly regarding vote-buying practices. “He was very clear with those that helped him get the vote out — he paid them for their time, but never for the votes themselves,” Filomena shared.
In recent years, the mobilization of campaign workers to aid elderly and disabled voters has faced scrutiny, leading to increased legislation aimed at tightening mail-in voting regulations. This movement gained momentum after unverified claims of voter fraud emerged from former President Donald Trump and his allies following the 2020 election. Consequently, Texas enacted Senate Bill 1, which prohibits local election officials from sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications, even to those who qualify automatically. The law also imposes new requirements for individuals assisting voters, mandating them to disclose their relationship to the voter.
Last week, Texas authorities executed search warrants at the homes of several individuals in connection with an ongoing “election integrity investigation” led by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Reports indicate that the investigation targets allegations of illegal vote harvesting by a known political figure in Frio County. This practice involves collecting completed mail-in ballots from various voters. Those whose homes were searched, including Democratic candidate Cecilia Castellano and former Bexar County Democratic Party chair Manuel Medina, have denied any wrongdoing.
The news of the raids sparked widespread attention, particularly after a prominent Latino advocacy group accused Paxton of attempting to intimidate voters to influence an upcoming state House race in favor of Republicans. Allegations of vote harvesting often resurface after elections in the Valley, a region known for its contentious political landscape.
In 2018, the city of Mission became embroiled in a legal battle over election results, where former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas accused his opponent of bribery and illegal voting practices. Although a judge initially ruled the election invalid, the decision was later overturned, allowing the opposing candidate to retain the office.
Mission attorney Rick Salinas, who represented his father in the election dispute, attributes the decline of local politics to ballot harvesting. He asserts that many current officeholders are products of this underground movement. In contrast, Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, contends that there was no evidence of such practices in the O’Caña case.
As both parties continue to clash over election integrity, Hinojosa claims that investigations into alleged election fraud tend to focus disproportionately on Latino and Democratic strongholds like the Rio Grande Valley. He believes that Paxton’s actions aim to intimidate traditionally Democratic voters.
The line between lawful assistance for elderly voters and illegal practices can be blurry, especially with evolving laws. Political scientist Alvaro Corral from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley notes that perceptions around voter assistance have shifted significantly, particularly since the implementation of SB 1. He warns that the ongoing investigation may deter voter engagement efforts within Latino communities, leading to increased hesitance among election officials to provide essential support.
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
News
Two brothers Launch Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, Sponsor WAEC Registration For 50 vulnerable Students
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
In a significant effort to promote education, two brothers have launched the Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, sponsoring the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration for 50 vulnerable students in Kamaru Ikulu Ward, Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Yusuf Ismail Ashafa, popularly known as Sardaunan Ikulu, urged the beneficiaries to remain dedicated to their studies and strive for academic excellence. He assured them that the foundation would continue to support outstanding students by facilitating their admission into higher institutions.
Ashafa also called on parents to play an active role in motivating their children to focus on education, emphasizing that their success would contribute to a brighter future for the community.
Meanwhile, Ashafa, who played a crucial role in the emergence of Engr. Bege Gaiya Joseph as the Executive Chairman of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, expressed deep appreciation for Joseph and his brother, Reuben Richman Bissla, for sponsoring the students’ WAEC registration in his honor.
He pledged to build on these efforts, ensuring continued support for students’ education as a means of fostering societal development.
In his remarks, the co-sponsor, Engr. Joseph Bege Gaiya, popularly known as Lordbeckson, disclosed that the initiative was aimed at improving the education of the most vulnerable students for the betterment of society.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of the goodwill of Sardaunan Ikulu. If he had wanted to become the Council Chairman, he would have been, but he decided to push me forward, and today I am the Council Chairman through his mentorship,” he stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to consider themselves fortunate and to take full advantage of the opportunity by studying hard to achieve excellent results.
“With the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, we must ensure that our students pursue science courses. We cannot afford to have a Federal University in our region and yet have our children unable to gain admission to study science-related fields,” he added.
The initiative has been widely commended as a timely intervention, helping underprivileged students overcome financial barriers to education.
Amid the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly has told both the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the police that Nigerians are keenly watching their actions.
This came amid viral video of some politicians in the Kogi State mass-signing signatures purported to be that of the Senator’s constituents.
It was gathered that the Senator has already petitioned the police over the development.
However, addressing journalists on Tuesday, the National President of Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, Shuaibu Usman, accused the INEC of always compromising the electoral process in Kogi State.
Usman, who recalled how results of the last governorship election in the state emerged even before the exercise commenced, urged the commission to redeem itself.
He said, “Kogi parades as a worst example when it comes to INEC conduct of election in Nigeria. We have not forgotten how many credible organisations, including Yiaga Africa, raised the alarm of the electoral heist that went on during the last guber election in that state.
“So, INEC has been notorious for providing a thriving ground for politicians in Kogi State to mess up the country’s electoral system.
“The same people are at it again, this time hiding under the guise of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. With their Kogi magic, they quickly manufactured over 250,000 signatures, whereas the entire voters during the main election stood at 120,000.
“One need not be a suitsayer to know that these are the same elements who are known to be chronic election riggers, with INEC as their enablers.
“However, we must caution the INEC that this should not be business as usual; this is beyond Kogi State, so Nigerians are watching.
“We were taken aback when the INEC after announcing that the petition did not meet its requirements, returned a day after to tell Nigerians that the same petitioners have met the requirements- what a quick fix!
“The INEC must not kowtow to the whims and caprices of desperate political elements in Kogi State, as this will be resisted by Nigerians.”
Similarly, the apex Igbo group also urged the police to ensure that all those in forging the signatures of Senator Natasha’s constituents were brought to book.
According to the group, the viral videos showed known faces in Kogi State, wondering why the police were yet to effect any arrest.
“By now, we had expected that some of the perpetrators should be cooling their heels in custody or having their days in court, but it is yet to happen.
“There should be no room for compromise, the culprits, no matter how highly placed, should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“We urge that the police should engage forensic experts to analyze those signatures before the INEC takes any further step in the said petition,” Usman further stated.