EFCC's Olukoyede Warns Against Vote Buying Ahead of 2027

Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), issued a warning against the commercialization of votes in Nigeria during a lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday. He described vote buying as a significant threat to democratic governance, particularly with the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Olukoyede stressed that the EFCC remains committed to preventing the monetization of the electoral process, which undermines democracy and good governance. He criticized political leaders who benefit from vote buying, stating that they often misplace priorities, focusing on personal gain rather than public good.

He noted that electoral offenses have become more sophisticated, with criminals adopting covert strategies. The EFCC has intensified its efforts to enforce electoral laws and has made arrests related to electoral offenses involving politicians and voter officials.

Olukoyede urged political parties to base their campaigns on issues rather than divisive rhetoric and called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure credible elections.