Nigerian governorship aspirants spent N30bn on primaries: EFCC boss

Governorship candidates in Nigeria spent an estimated N20 billion to N30 billion (approximately $13 million to $20 million USD) on party primaries alone for the 2027 elections, according to Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Olukoyede warned that this trend poses a significant threat to democratic governance and fuels corruption. He explained that the immense financial resources required to secure nominations often compel elected officials to divert public funds after taking office to recover their campaign "investments." This practice, he stated, undermines the principle of serving the public interest.

The EFCC chairman emphasized the agency's commitment to combating vote-buying and other financial inducements that compromise Nigeria's electoral integrity. He noted that the "commercialization of votes" weakens the foundation of good governance by corrupting the political recruitment process. The EFCC has made arrests and secured convictions related to electoral offenses.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the EFCC plans to deploy advanced technological tools, including drones, to enhance monitoring, particularly for vote-buying at polling units. Olukoyede urged political parties and stakeholders to focus on issue-based campaigns and reject violence, calling for collaborative efforts among electoral bodies, security agencies, civil society, and the media to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

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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