17th March, 2023
Officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, deployed to deter vote trading and other financial malpractices that could compromise the integrity of the governorship and state assembly elections slated for Saturday have been arriving across the states where the polls would be held.
The teams led by senior officers began arriving at their assigned locations earlier today, March 17.
On arrival at the states they were deployed to, the EFCC officials held consultations with the other security agencies involved in election security and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, according to the spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren.
The team for Ebonyi State, arrived Abakaliki and met with the Commissioner of Police at the State Headquarters, to register their presence before proceeding to the State INEC Headquarters for a brief meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.
Officers of Kaduna Zonal Command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar who are on election monitoring mission to Niger state also met the Commissioner of Police, J.A Ogundele, to register their presence in the state.
They also visited the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Niger state, Ahmed Yusha’u Garki.
Officers of the Abuja Zonal Command on election monitoring duty in Nasarawa State, led by ACE II Adeniyi Adebayo also registered their presence at the Nigeria Police Command Lafia, and had a brief meeting with the Commissioner of Police.
“The brief of the teams is to deter vote trading and other financial malpractices that could compromise the integrity of the elections.
“The Executive Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa had, in a message to the teams before the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25, charged them to exhibit a high sense of integrity and professionalism in carrying out their duties.
“You are out on a national assignment and I expect you to conduct yourselves responsibly in line with our core values of professionalism, integrity and courage. You have a responsibility to ensure that this election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially inducement of voters.
“The attention of the world is focused on Nigeria and we must do what is necessary to ensure that we have credible, free and fair elections,” he stated.
