In an effort to curb electoral fraud during the ongoing Edo governorship election, officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed several polling units in Benin City on Saturday. Their primary goal was to prevent vote-buying, a practice that has marred past elections in Nigeria.
Dressed in their signature camouflage uniforms and vests, EFCC operatives were seen patrolling polling stations, searching for individuals engaging in the illegal act of exchanging votes for money. One notable location they visited was Oredo Ward 1, located at the former Garrick Memorial College, where the operatives thoroughly searched even rundown structures in the area for any suspicious activity.
Despite their efforts, not everyone agreed with the EFCC’s approach. Some voters expressed their concerns about the visibility of the agents. According to Eric Elijah, a voter in the area, the EFCC’s presence in full uniform might have compromised their effectiveness.
“That way, they will be able to intercept vote buyers. But with the way they came now, everyone knows that these are EFCC people, so even the vote buyers adjusted,” Elijah told PUNCH, arguing that undercover operations would have been more effective in catching offenders in the act. He also pointed out that arriving earlier in the day might have helped to catch vote-buyers “red-handed.”
Elijah went on to discuss his hopes for the eventual winner of the election, urging the future governor to lead the state with fairness, regardless of who supported or opposed their candidacy.
In contrast to Elijah’s criticism, some other voters appreciated the EFCC’s presence. Mr. Lugard Osaro, an 80-year-old voter, praised the efforts of the anti-corruption agency, noting that their involvement was essential for ensuring a free and fair election. He also expressed hopes that the incoming governor would build upon the successes of the outgoing administration.
However, at another polling station, Oredo Ward 3, located at Ezomon Primary School, voters expressed concerns over the timing of the EFCC’s arrival. Several of them argued that the operatives should have been deployed much earlier in the day to have a stronger impact on preventing vote-buying.
