The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dispatched its operatives nationwide to oversee the governorship and state assembly elections taking place on Saturday.
The spokesperson for the anti-corruption agency, Wilson Uwujaren, announced that the teams are being led by senior officers and have already met with state commissioners of police and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in several states.
He said; “The team for Ebonyi State arrived in Abakaliki and met with the Commissioner of Police at the State Headquarters, to register their presence before proceeding to the State INEC Headquarters for a brief meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.
“Officers of Kaduna Zonal Command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar, who is 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, and had a brief meeting with the Commissioner of Police.”
The objective of these teams is to deter vote trading and other financial malpractices that could undermine the integrity of the elections.
Before the Presidential and National Assembly elections in February 2023, EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa had charged the officers to act with professionalism and integrity, and to ensure that the elections are free from financial malpractice and voter inducement.
“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.
“You have a responsibility to ensure that this election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially 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.”
