Anti-graft agency hints at possible deployment of drones, other technological tools to bolster election monitoring ahead 2027 general elections…
By Olawale Lamina
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that some governorship aspirants spent between N20 billion and N30 billion in vote buying to secure electoral victory during the last primary elections, saying the practice remains a threat to democracy and helps corruption to thrive in public office.
Olukoyede stated this while delivering the inaugural High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, CPSS, University of Ilorin, on Wednesday.
The executive chairman of the EFCC stressed that huge financial resources expended during elections were part of the reasons elected officials to divert public funds after occupying the public office just to recoup their investments.
He disclosed that the EFCC had succeeded in making several arrests across the country over vote-buying and other forms of electoral offences, with several convictions already secured.
Speaking of the theme: “De-risking and Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria,” cited what it takes to win an election by pointing out that the huge financial outlay required to win elections a times leads to pressure on public office holders to siphon public funds after occupying office.
He assured that the anti-graft body is committed to addressing the crime of vote-buying and other inducements capable of denigrating the outcome and integrity of country’s electoral process.
According to Olukoyede, “The commercialisation of votes weakens the foundation of good governance because it compromises the political recruitment process. Leaders who buy their way into office are more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest.”
He added that, so far, offenders prosecuted include politicians, electoral officials, and ordinary citizens found culpable of electoral misconduct.
The EFCC chairman also cautioned against impunity in the electoral process, noting that it could undermine democracy and national stability, even as he stressed that there must be no sacred cows in enforcing electoral laws.
He also disclosed that the commission plans to deploy drones and other technological tools to strengthen election monitoring ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in tracking vote-buying and financial inducements at polling units.
He urged political parties and their supporters to focus on issue-based campaigns and reject inflammatory comments that could incite violence.
Olukoyede called on political parties, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society groups, the media, and political actors, to work in synergy towards peaceful, free, and credible elections.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), identified electoral corruption as a major threat to national security and democratic development.
The VC emphasized that credible elections are key to sustainable national stability, economic growth, and public confidence in governance, calling for s for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and agencies responsible for safeguarding electoral integrity.
During his welcome address, the Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Professor G.A. Animasawun, stated that the lecture series was conceived to provide a platform for proactive engagement on threats to the nation’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls. According to him, the idea would bring together policymakers, security experts, electoral officials, civil society groups, and scholars to develop practical solutions for peaceful and credible elections.
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