EFCC Chair Reveals N30bn Spent on Governorship Primaries

Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated that governorship aspirants in Nigeria spent between N20 billion and N30 billion on primaries. Speaking at an event in Ilorin, Kwara State, he warned that such financial expenditures pose a serious threat to democracy and could lead to the mismanagement of public resources.

Olukoyede emphasized the need for the EFCC to combat vote-buying and financial inducements that undermine the electoral process. He disclosed that the commission has made several arrests related to electoral offenses and has already secured convictions.

The EFCC plans to deploy drone technology to enhance election monitoring, particularly to track vote-buying activities. He called on political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns and urged collaboration among stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and civil society organizations, to ensure peaceful and credible elections in the upcoming 2027 general elections.