Edo Election: EFCC deploys operatives against voters’ inducement, arrests vote buyers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made several arrests in connection with alleged vote buying during the Edo governorship election, as the EFCC and police operatives apprehended three suspects—two males and a female—at a polling unit at the local government area.

The suspects were subsequently whisked away by the authorities, highlighting ongoing concerns about electoral integrity.

Vote buying, a practice where candidates hand out money to voters or induce them to cast ballots in a particular direction, has become increasingly common in Nigeria during elections.

Ahead of the Edo election, Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation, warned that politicians might resort to both violence and vote buying tactics.

Egor was identified as one of eight local government areas considered hotspots for such activities, alongside Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Etsako West, Etsako East, and Esan South-East.

Yiaga also emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to combat vote buying, advocating for the arrest and prosecution of both buyers and sellers.

The organization also noted a volatile political climate surrounding the election, indicating that strong-arm tactics and violence had marred campaign activities. As the election unfolds, it remains crucial for law enforcement to uphold electoral integrity and protect the democratic process.

The off-cycle election has 17 candidates jostling for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.

The EFCC had earlier announced that its operatives have been deployed to all local government areas in Edo State to tackle voters’ inducement in the Saturday governorship election in the state.

This was disclosed in a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and made available to the media on Friday.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as saying that the Commission was committed to the attainment of electoral integrity across the country by insulating voters from every form of financial inducement in exercising their franchise.

“Our operatives have been deployed to monitor the conduct of the elections. We are committed to the attainment of electoral integrity by ensuring that voters cast their votes democratically without any form of financial inducement. Vote buying is a financial crime and the EFCC won’t allow it anywhere,” he said.

It added that the Commission has always been involved in monitoring every electoral process across the country in line with its mandate of tackling all forms of economic and financial crimes.

The off-cycle election has 17 candidates jostling for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State. They will be battling to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki whose eight-year leadership ends in November.