EFCC, INEC Forge Alliance to Curb Vote Buying Ahead of 2027 Elections

(INEC and EFCC. Photo by X.com)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have agreed to partner towards ensuring credible and transparent elections in the 2027 general election.

The understanding was reached on Tuesday when the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Obo Etfanga, paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

The REC, who was recently deployed to Edo State, said he sought to engage with critical stakeholders including law enforcement agencies ahead of the 2027 general election, and to explore areas of further collaboration.

He noted that the EFCC has consistently played a significant role in curtailing vote buying during elections.

In a related development, the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, also paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.

The Chairman of the Institute’s Edo State Branch, Ibukun Akande, said the visit was to identify areas of collaboration with the EFCC, noting that the Commission’s mandate to tackle economic and financial crimes often intersects with the activities of banks and bankers.

The Acting Zonal Director, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, affirmed that the Commission would continue to partner with INEC in curtailing vote buying before and during elections.

He also thanked the CIBN leadership for their visit, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption and financial crimes across the country.