Esther Salifu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said there are indications that leading political parties are planning to engage in massive vote-buying, with some offering as much as N20,000 per vote as the Edo governorship election approaches Vote-buying is an economic crime and we will not tolerate it,” said Dele Oyewale, spokesman for
The spokesperson for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale stated this.
The EFCC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have warned against inducements, with INEC asking security agencies to go after vote buyers.”We will not allow any kind of criminality in any form,” Oyewale stated.
Parties have started amassing “war chests” to compromise voters, with a credible source revealing that a vote could go for between N15,000 and N20,000.The Edo poll may set a new record for vote-buying in the history of elections in the country, according to a highly credible source. Yiaga Africa, a frontline election monitoring organisation, has expressed worry that parties have abandoned the election mandate and resolved to induce voters with cash and materials.
“The buying of votes is an all-time high, and unless INEC and security agencies work together to ensure that citizens are discouraged from selling their votes, this might be an election where the buying of votes becomes an all-time high,” said a source.Parties have denied plans to buy votes, but the EFCC and INEC are working to prevent vote-buying and ensure a free and fair election.
