NAYARIT, Mexico — Héctor Santana, the on-leave mayor of the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, is facing formal accusations of committing electoral offenses and breaching internal party ethics after being accused of coercing vulnerable citizens for political gain.
The formal complaint was submitted directly to the National Elections Commission of Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, by local lawmakers serving in Nayarit’s 34th Legislature. The filing comes at a critical political juncture, as Santana recently registered to become the state coordinator in defense of the “Fourth Transformation”—a position widely recognized as the key prelude to securing Morena’s candidate nomination for the governorship of Nayarit.
According to the official filing, Santana allegedly took advantage of the severe economic hardships faced by local families by conditioning the distribution of vital social aid, including food packages (despensas) and other material incentives, on mandatory attendance at his political assemblies. The petition further alleges that Santana arranged the organized mass transport of voters—a practice known locally as acarreo—to fabricate an impression of overwhelming public support for his political campaign.
In their filing, the Morena legislators emphasized that such coercive practices undermine the fundamental equity and transparency required for a fair candidate selection process. They stressed that leveraging poverty for political advancement explicitly violates Morena’s core doctrine, which firmly rejects the exploitation of citizens’ economic vulnerabilities for purely electoral motives.
The complaining lawmakers urged internal party authorities to act swiftly, enforce current legal standards, and launch a full investigation into the matter. Neither Santana nor Morena’s election officials have issued a detailed public statement regarding potential sanctions, leaving the future of his gubernatorial campaign uncertain as internal tensions grow.
Other media outlets such as Oposición, sustain that Santana has links to drug cartels and “La Barredora” organized crime group. Check out the following video:
Source: Excelsior
