Primary Elections: An Aspirant Spending N30b To Get Nominated For Governor ‘Worrisome’-EFCC Chairman
Assessing the recently held primary elections by political parties in the country, Executive chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede disclosed on Wednesday that some aspirants spent between N20 billion and N30 billion to get nominated for governor which is a worrisome development.
He also warned that the trend poses a serious threat to democratic governance and fuels corruption in public office.
Delivering the inaugural High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin, the EFCC boss said the huge financial resources deployed during elections often compel political office holders to misappropriate public funds after taking office.
Mr Olukoyede, who had ‘De-risking and Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria’ as his keynote topic, added that the huge financial outlay required to win elections often creates pressure on public office holders to divert public funds after assuming office, citing what is required to win a governorship election.
The EFCC, he noted, remains committed to tackling vote-buying and other forms of financial inducement capable of undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
‘The commercialisation of votes weakens the foundation of good governance because it compromises the political recruitment process. Leaders who buy their way into office are more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest’ he said.
Olukoyede said the anti-graft agency has made several arrests across the country in respect of vote-buying and related electoral offences, with a number of convictions already secured.
He noted that those who were prosecuted include politicians, electoral officials and ordinary citizens found culpable of electoral misconduct.
The EFCC chairman warned that impunity in the electoral process can undermine democracy and national stability, stressing that there must be no sacred cows in the enforcement of electoral laws.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that he also disclosed that ahead of the 2027 general election, the anti-graft body plans to deploy drones and other technological tools to strengthen election monitoring and track vote-buying and financial inducements at polling stations.
Mr Olukoyede urged political parties and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns and reject inflammatory rhetoric capable of inciting violence while also emphasizing the need for stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organizations, the media and political actors, to jointly work towards ensuring peaceful, free and credible elections.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), described electoral corruption as a major threat to national security and democratic development.
Professor Egbewole said credible elections are essential for national stability, economic growth and public confidence in governance, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and agencies responsible for safeguarding electoral integrity -Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
