EFCC Reveals N30bn Spent by Governorship Aspirants

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoye, disclosed that certain governorship aspirants have allegedly spent between N20 billion and N30 billion during the electoral process. This revelation was made during a lecture at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies.

Olukoye warned that the escalating costs of political campaigns pose a serious threat to Nigeria's democracy, as candidates investing such large sums may be tempted to misuse public funds to secure electoral victories. He noted that the pressure to recover campaign expenses often fosters an environment conducive to corruption, undermining public trust and the integrity of political processes.

The EFCC is actively pursuing individuals involved in electoral offenses linked to financial inducements. Olukoye emphasized the need for political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than inflammatory rhetoric that could incite violence.

He also announced plans to enhance electoral monitoring ahead of the 2027 elections, including the deployment of drone technology to detect suspicious financial activities at polling units.