EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ESAU’S SALE OF HIS BIRTHRIGHT IN GENESIS 25:29–34 AND VOTE BUYING AND SELLING IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN POLITICS

Abstract

This article investigates the parallel between Esau’s sale of his birthright in Genesis 25:29–34 and the pervasive phenomenon of vote buying and selling in contemporary Nigerian politics. The biblical narrative of Esau, who exchanged his divine inheritance for a single meal, provides a compelling lens through which to examine the socio-political dynamics of electoral compromise in Nigeria. Esau's short-sighted decision, driven by immediate physical need, mirrors the desperation and lack of political consciousness that often leads Nigerian voters to exchange their democratic rights for material tokens such as money, food, or promises of temporary relief. Through a critical literary and theological analysis of the Genesis passage, and an empirical overview of vote buying and selling practices, this study explores the moral, spiritual, and national consequences of transactional political behavior. Anchored in a biblical ethical framework and guided by the theory of political clientelism, the study proposes that Esau’s story offers a cautionary paradigm for Nigerian voters. It emphasizes the dangers of mortgaging long-term democratic potential for ephemeral gratification. The article concludes with recommendations for value reorientation, civic education, and the role of faith-based institutions in strengthening democratic accountability. By drawing insights from sacred scripture and contemporary political realities, this study aims to contribute to both biblical scholarship and democratic reform in Nigeria.