In a proactive move against electoral fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have both mobilized their teams to monitor the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, revealed that the commission’s officers are on high alert to counteract any attempts at voter inducement, such as vote buying and selling, ensuring a fair electoral process in line with the Electoral Act.
He said: “In its drive to checkmate electoral fraud and associated financial crimes, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has deployed its officers to Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States where governorship elections are held on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
“The Commission’s monitoring operations are to tackle any form of voter’s inducement through vote buying, vote selling and other manipulation of the electoral processes at variance with the Electoral Act.”
Simultaneously, the ICPC has taken a strong stance against electoral malpractices, deploying officials to all 56 local government areas and 649 wards across the three states. Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson for ICPC, emphasized the agents’ responsibility to monitor and prevent vote buying and other forms of electoral misconduct at polling stations.