In ‘The Voter’, Roof is an energetic young man who has the reputation of sacrificing a bright future for the sake of the people of his village. The roof has worked in a city for two years and has experience in dealing with both literates and illiterates. Based on this knowledge of general human behaviour, Roof builds for himself a career as election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe. When the story opens, we learn that Marcus Ibe is Chief the Honourable Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and is seeking people’* mandate for a second term. We also learn that Marcus considers Roof a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. Roof knows how politicians make money. He also knows that the people of Umuofia have now decided to vote for Marcus for a price. Roof conveys this news to Marcus and prepares him beforehand.
Like an efficient manager, he tries to highlight the strong points of PAP and finally strike a bargain with the voters paying them four shillings per vote. Everything is now going according to his plan and is happy.
But, one evening, the leader of the POP campaign team comes to his house to meet him. He tempts Roof to vote for Maduka paying him five pounds. Roof’* greed tempts him to accept the offer. But, he also gets trapped. The leader asks him to swear on the ‘Iyi’, that he would vote for Maduka.
The roof cannot go back on his promise. So he swears to vote for Maduka. Finally, on the day of the voting, Marcus wants to make sure that every one of his people casts his vote without fail. Therefore, Roof being his election manager, Marcus sends him to the booth first to vote. Now, Roof is caught in a moral dilemma. All along he has worked for Marcus and his conscience does not permit him to cheat Marcus. Now, when Marcus asks him to cast his vote he is in two minds. He feels that he cannot betray Marcus. For a moment, his mind tells him that he should vote for Marcus and go back and return the money he had received from the POP election manager.
Secondly, he remembers that he had sworn on that ‘lyi’. In a few seconds, his mind hits on a new idea. He folds the ballot paper at the middle and tears it into two halves at the crease. He drops the first half into the box meant for Maduka and confirms his vote saying that he votes for Maduka. Since he has not taken an oath to vote for Marcus, there is no **** of ‘lyi’ in him but only his guilt. Since he has worked as his manager for money and rewards, he drops the other half into the box meant for Marcus. Thus, he ensures that he does not cheat either. By tearing the ballot paper and casting his vote for both of them he overcomes his moral dilemma.
