The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have been deployed to all local government areas in Edo State to tackle voters’ inducement in the Saturday governorship election in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and made available to Chronicle NG on Friday.
The statement quoted the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as saying that the Commission was committed to the attainment of electoral integrity across the country by insulating voters from every form of financial inducement in exercising their franchise.
“Our operatives have been deployed to monitor the conduct of the elections. We are committed to the attainment of electoral integrity by ensuring that voters cast their votes democratically without any form of financial inducement. Vote buying is a financial crime and the EFCC won’t allow it anywhere,” he said.
It added that the Commission has always been involved in monitoring every electoral process across the country in line with its mandate of tackling all forms of economic and financial crimes.
The off-cycle election has 17 candidates jostling for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.
They will be battling to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki whose eight-year leadership ends in November.