Pic.: EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede
…Aspirants spending billions to secure party tickets
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that governorship aspirants in Nigeria are spending between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure party nominations, warning that the trend poses a grave threat to democracy and good governance.
Olukoyede disclosed this while delivering a lecture at the High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, themed “De-risking and Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria.”
Politicians Seek to Recover ‘Investments’
According to the EFCC boss, the huge sums spent during party primaries often push elected officials into diverting public resources after assuming office in an attempt to recover their investments.
He warned that the commercialization of the electoral process weakens democratic institutions and undermines the recruitment of credible leaders.
“Leaders who buy their way into office are more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest,” he said.
EFCC to Deploy Drones for 2027 Polls
Premium Times reports that Olukoyede disclosed that the commission remains committed to tackling vote-buying and other forms of electoral corruption.
He further disclosed that the EFCC plans to deploy drones and other technological tools during the 2027 general elections to monitor polling units and track incidents of vote-buying and financial inducement.
The anti-graft agency, he added, has already secured arrests and convictions involving politicians, electoral officials and citizens implicated in electoral offences across the country.
Call for Credible Elections
The EFCC chairman urged political parties and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns and avoid inflammatory rhetoric capable of triggering violence.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, civil society groups, the media and other stakeholders to work together to ensure peaceful, free and credible elections in 2027.
Electoral Corruption Threatens Democracy – UNILORIN VC
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Wahab Egbewole, described electoral corruption as a major threat to national security, democratic development and public confidence in governance.
He noted that credible elections remain essential for political stability and economic growth, while advocating stronger collaboration between academic institutions and agencies responsible for protecting electoral integrity.
Tags: EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, 2027 Elections, Vote Buying, Governorship Primaries, Electoral Corruption, INEC
