Edo Guber Election: EFCC Arrests Suspected Vote Buyers in Egor LGA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended several individuals for alleged vote buying during the ongoing Edo State governorship election. The arrests took place at a polling unit in Egor Local Government Area (LGA).

According to eyewitness reports, EFCC officials, in collaboration with the police, detained three suspects—two men and one woman—who were allegedly attempting to influence voters by offering money. The suspects were swiftly escorted away from the polling unit.

Vote buying, a common tactic used to sway voters during elections in Nigeria, has been a growing concern. Ahead of the Edo polls, civil society organization Yiaga Africa had warned of potential violence and vote-buying activities. The group specifically identified Egor as one of eight high-risk LGAs for electoral malpractice, alongside Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Etsako West, Etsako East, and Esan South-East.

Yiaga Africa emphasized the need for strong measures to combat vote buying, including the arrest and prosecution of those involved. The organization highlighted the tense political environment leading up to the election, marked by reports of violence and intimidation during the campaigns.

The Edo governorship election sees 17 candidates vying for the votes of over 2.2 million registered voters across the state’s 18 LGAs.