During the Imo State governorship election, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was detained by the Independent Corrupt Practises Commission (ICPC) for possessing a huge sum of money.
Anaedoonline.ng has learned that INEC officials were apprehended at Polling Unit 005, Township Primary School, Ikenegbu 1, in the Owerri Municipal LGA.
The money was allegedly offered to the official by an unnamed party for the aim of vote-buying, a widespread issue in Nigeria that affects election integrity.
Imo Guber Election: Gunfire In Imo As Police Clash With Party Agents
The ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sent officers to monitor off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa to combat electoral fraud, including vote buying and selling.
It was previously reported that party agents in Kogi State’s present off-cycle election resorted to offering financial incentives to Lokoja voters in order to win their votes for their respective candidates.
The operatives were reportedly stationed roughly 500 metres from the polling stations and distributed cash to voters in exchange for their support. According to report, the amount of money handed to each voter ranged from N3,000 to N5,000, depending on their particular qualities and bargaining skills.
Meanwhile, Udengs Eradiri, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, had claimed that vote buying was taking place in the state’s off-cycle election.
According to him, the ruling party utilised public funds to buy votes.
US Govt Accuse EFCC, ICPC Agencies of Not Going After Powerful, Corrupt Nigerian Officials
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Eradiri made the claim shortly after voting at his polling unit in Bayelsa’s Ward 10, Yenagoa Local Government Area, at around 9:10 a.m.
According to the LP candidate, money meant for education is being squandered on vote buying.
“The state resources are everywhere shared. The money that should have been used for schools, education, and the economy of the state is thrown around to buy votes. And sometimes I wonder how people sit on a seat they did not win…,” Eradiri said in a video clip shared by Newsmen.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.