The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed operatives to monitor local government council elections scheduled for Saturday across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The nationwide anti-graft agency said the deployment is part of its mandate to ensure electoral integrity and prevent financial crimes during the voting process.
According to a statement from the commission, its officers are actively deployed in all six local government areas of the FCT. Their primary directive is to surveil polling stations and collation centres to deter and detect incidents of vote-buying, inducement, and other forms of electoral malpractice. This intervention aligns with the EFCC’s expanded role in securing Nigeria’s electoral environment beyond its traditional focus on financial fraud.
Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, confirmed the operational directive, stating that officers have been tasked with ensuring strict surveillance. “We are committed to preventing any form of electoral fraud and upholding the principles of free and fair elections,” he said. Mr. Olukoyede emphasized that transparency and accountability are central to the commission’s approach, adding, “The EFCC will not condone any attempts to manipulate the will of the people through inducement or coercion.”
The commission’s statement, issued on Saturday, reassured the public that its teams are fully operational and actively monitoring proceedings. It described the deployment as a proactive measure to support a credible electoral process and reinforce public confidence in local government elections.
This deployment reflects a broader trend of Nigerian security and regulatory agencies being assigned specific duties during elections to curb identified threats. Vote-buying, often involving cash or material inducements, has been repeatedly cited by observers as a persistent challenge in the country’s electoral system. By focusing on the financial transactions that accompany electoral manipulation, the EFCC’s involvement aims to address the economic dimension of electoral offences.
The EFCC’s presence is expected to complement the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is responsible for administering the polls. While the commission does not conduct elections, its investigative and deterrent role is designed to create a hostile environment for corrupt electoral practices.
As voting commences, the EFCC has urged citizens and party agents to adhere to electoral laws and report any suspicious financial activities related to the polls. The success of such security deployments is often measured by the absence of major incidents and the overall perception of the election’s fairness. The commission’s actions in the FCT may set a precedent for its involvement in future state and national elections across Nigeria.
