The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) says it has deployed 200 armed operatives to combat vote buying in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states during Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
This was revealed by Mr. Farouk Dogondaji, the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Commander, in an interview on Thursday in Kano.
“We have deployed 50 personnel to monitor the conduct of the election in Kano state, 50 in Jigawa and 50 in Katsina state to prevent vote buying throughout the electoral process,” he said.
The remaining officers were deployed to Malam Aminu Kano International airport in Kano and the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina.
“We will be visible in nine senatorial districts of the Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states to carefully monitor the entire exercise during and after elections.”
“We have deployed 50 personnel to monitor the conduct of the election in Kano state, 50 in Jigawa and 50 in Katsina state to prevent vote buying throughout the electoral process,” he said.
“We will be physically present at collection centres to prevent tempering with results from local government level to state. We are carefully monitoring the entire exercise along with state security agencies towards providing a peaceful atmosphere for eligible residents to elect leaders of their choice in our areas of supervision.”
He said that the deployment was a part of the commission’s dedication to ensuring fair and transparent elections in the region.
He said that the Commission and affiliated security organizations would create an environment that would allow eligible residents to exercise their civil rights at all polling places.
The Zonal Commander claimed that the EFCC has taken further steps to make it more difficult for any individual or group to tamper with the election results.
Dogondaji called on the personnel to be thorough and professional in carrying out the national assignment.
“Our presence is to credibly add value to the electoral process by preventing vote buying and change of results at collaboration centres to pave way for the electorate to elect leaders of their choice through the democratic process,” he said.
The commander of the EFCC stated that the operation’s goal was to provide Nigerians the chance to pick reputable leaders who were dedicated to the country’s growth and development without the use of any inducements.
He urged parents to prevent their kids from being used as political thugs because anyone found out will be detained and charged.
