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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

EFCC tracks voters who chased away operatives in Ekiti

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking voters who confronted its operatives during the Ekiti State governorship election.
  • The EFCC views the incident as an unlawful obstruction of its mandate to curb vote-buying and considers it a dangerous precedent.
  • The commission stated it will pursue legal consequences for those involved and remains committed to sanitizing the electoral process despite threats.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is actively searching for voters who challenged and chased away its operatives from a polling unit during the recent Ekiti State governorship election. Officials described the voters' actions as unlawful and a dangerous precedent that undermines the commission's mandate.

We consider the action unacceptable and unlawful. The commission will not condone criminality. We are on the lookout for those involved.

— EFCC OfficialDescribing the commission's stance on voters confronting its operatives.

An EFCC official stated, "We consider the action unacceptable and unlawful. The commission will not condone criminality. We are on the lookout for those involved." The agency views the confrontation as an attack on its lawful duties, particularly its efforts to combat vote-buying. The incident occurred at Polling Unit 10, Ward B in Iyin-Ekiti, where voters questioned the presence of EFCC officials monitoring for electoral offenses, leading to a standoff that prompted the operatives to withdraw.

The commission expressed concern that if such conduct is not addressed, it could embolden others to obstruct law enforcement during future elections. "If such conduct is allowed to continue, it could embolden others to obstruct law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate assignments during elections," an official warned. The EFCC emphasized that individuals cannot arbitrarily decide to frustrate officials performing their statutory responsibilities.

If such conduct is allowed to continue, it could embolden others to obstruct law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate assignments during elections.

— EFCC OfficialExpressing concern about the dangerous precedent set by the incident.

Despite the resistance encountered in Ekiti, the EFCC reiterated its commitment to its mission. "We insist that vote-buying is wrong, and we are not going to condone it. We are not going to allow anybody to intimidate us. We will not succumb to any form of harassment," the official added. The agency plans to identify and take appropriate action against the individuals involved in the confrontation, asserting that it will not abandon its duty to sanitize the electoral process due to threats or resistance.

We insist that vote-buying is wrong, and we are not going to condone it. We are not going to allow anybody to intimidate us. We will not succumb to any form of harassment.

— EFCC OfficialReaffirming the EFCC's commitment to fighting vote-buying despite challenges.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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