INEC Strengthens Collaboration with EFCC to Ensure Credible Elections in Kwara State

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for enhanced collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to bolster credible electoral processes in Nigeria. This appeal was made during a courtesy visit on August 8, 2025, by the newly appointed INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State, Hale Gabriel Longpet, to Daniel Isei, Director of the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate.

During the meeting, Longpet emphasized that the partnership aims to deepen democracy through intelligence sharing on electoral offenses, sensitization campaigns against vote trading, and prompt prosecution of offenders. He highlighted that credible elections require collective efforts from all stakeholders to guarantee transparency and accountability before, during, and after elections. Longpet expressed optimism that EFCC’s involvement would significantly reduce vote purchasing and financial inducements that compromise the integrity of elections across the country.

Responding, EFCC’s Daniel Isei praised INEC’s critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic processes and reaffirmed the EFCC’s readiness to support free, fair, and credible elections in Kwara State. He stressed that fighting corruption in the electoral sphere involves curbing malpractices such as vote buying, bribery, and other forms of financial inducements that undermine election integrity.

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This collaboration builds on EFCC’s ongoing efforts to combat electoral fraud nationwide, including intelligence-led operations and prosecutions related to vote buying and other electoral offences in states such as Lagos, Kwara, and Gombe. INEC, under Longpet’s leadership, is also focused on increasing voter registration and turnout in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with continuous voter registration set to commence later this month across all local government headquarters in the state.

Such inter-agency partnerships between INEC and EFCC are crucial for reinforcing the democratic process by ensuring elections in Nigeria are conducted transparently, fairly, and free from financial corruption.