EFCC deploys personnel to stop vote buying during guber polls

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has deployed its personnel across the states where governorship and state assembly elections will take place. 

The elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 18.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said the deployment was to ensure that the elections were devoid of financial malpractice, especially the inducement of voters.

Uwujaren said the teams, led by senior officers arrived at their assigned locations earlier on Friday.

He said a number of them, on arrival, held consultations with the other security agencies involved in election security and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The team for Ebonyi State arrived in Abakaliki and met with the commissioner of police at the state headquarters, to register their presence,” Uwujaren said.

“They, thereafter, proceeded to the state INEC headquarters for a brief meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

“Officers of Kaduna zonal command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar who are on an 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 Resident Electoral Commissioner 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.”

The EFCC spokesperson said the brief of the teams was to deter vote trading and other financial malpractice that could compromise the integrity of the elections.

In the statement, Uwujaren said Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of EFCC, had, in a message to the teams before the presidential and national assembly elections, 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,” Bawa had said.

“You have a responsibility to ensure that this election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially the 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.”