Vote Buying: EFCC teams arrive states to monitor polls

Ahead of the governorship and state assembly elections today, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, deployed personnel of the agency across the states where the elections would be held to forestall vote buying.

The teams led by senior officers arrived at their assigned locations on Friday with a number of them holding consultation with the other security agencies involved in election security and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this said the team for Ebonyi State, arrived Abakaliki and met with the Commissioner of Police at the State Headquarters, to register their presence before proceeding to the state INEC headquarters for a brief meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

Officers of Kaduna Zonal Command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar, who are on election monitoring mission to Niger State also met the Commissioner of Police, J.A Ogundele, to register their presence in the state. They also visited the REC of Niger State, Ahmed Yusha’u Garki.

Officers of the Abuja Zonal Command on election monitoring duty in Nasarawa State, led by ACE II Adeniyi Adebayo, also registered their presence at the Nigeria Police Command, Lafia and had a brief meeting with the Commissioner of Police.

According to Uwujaren, the brief of the teams is to deter vote trading and other financial malpractices that could compromise the integrity of the elections.

Executive Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa had, in a message to the teams before the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25, charged them to exhibit a high sense of integrity and professionalism in carrying out their duties. 

“You are out on a national assignment and I expect you to conduct yourselves responsibly in line with our core values of professionalism, integrity and courage. You have a responsibility to ensure that this election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially inducement of voters. The attention of the world is focused on Nigeria and we must do what is necessary to ensure that we have credible, free and fair elections,” he stated.