EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede don drop heavy bomb for Ilorin on Wednesday. He hint say some governorship aspirants for Nigeria spend between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure electoral victory. According to am, this trend dey pose serious threat to democratic governance and dey fuel corruption for public office.
Olukoyede deliver the inaugural High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin. The theme na: “De-risking and Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria.” He yarn say huge financial resources wey dem deploy during elections often compel elected officials to divert public funds after dem assume office, just to recover their investments.
He cite example of wetin e require to win a governorship election. According to Olukoyede, the commercialisation of votes weakens the foundation of good governance because e dey compromise the political recruitment process. Leaders wey buy their way into office more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest.
The EFCC chairman reveal say the anti-graft agency don make several arrests across the country over vote-buying and related electoral offences. Dem don already secure some convictions. Those prosecuted include politicians, electoral officials and ordinary citizens wey dem find culpable of electoral misconduct.
Olukoyede warn say impunity for the electoral process fit undermine democracy and national stability. E stress say there must be no sacred cows for the enforcement of electoral laws. He also disclose say the commission plan to deploy drones and other technological tools to strengthen election monitoring ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially for tracking vote-buying and financial inducements at polling units.
He call on political parties and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns and reject inflammatory rhetoric wey fit incite violence. He urge stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and political actors, to work collaboratively to ensure peaceful, free and credible elections.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), describe electoral corruption as a major threat to national security and democratic development. Egbewole say credible elections essential for national stability, economic growth and public confidence for governance. E stress the need for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and agencies responsible for safeguarding electoral integrity.
A. Animasawun say the lecture series was conceived to provide a platform for proactive engagement on threats to Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls. E note say the initiative go bring together policymakers, security experts, electoral officials, civil society groups and scholars to develop practical solutions for peaceful and credible elections.
The event attract representatives of security agencies, electoral bodies, civil society organisations, members of the academic community and students.
