Edo Election: INEC Chair Urges EFCC, ICPC to Crack Down on Vote Buyers
As the Edo State governorship election approaches, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on security agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to intensify efforts in combating vote-buying.
During a meeting with the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Benin, Yakubu stressed that vote-buying threatens Nigeria’s democratic process. He urged the agencies to develop effective strategies to prevent individuals from influencing the election outcome through illegal means.
“You must deploy strategies to stop vote-buying, as it continues to undermine the integrity of our elections,” Yakubu said. He emphasized that the election must reflect the will of the people, not the highest bidder.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo, assured citizens of robust security measures to maintain peace during the election. He confirmed that law enforcement agencies are prepared to prevent any attempts to disrupt the process.
