Reports of vote-buying have emerged during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, with voters allegedly receiving cash payments from political party agents in exchange for their support.
Investigations in Aramoko Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area, revealed claims by some voters that they were offered money by representatives of competing political parties.
According to the allegations, agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) distributed ₦10,000 to individual voters, while agents of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reportedly offered ₦2,000 each.
At Polling Unit 004, located at Chief Ologbodo’s House in Oke Uro, Aramoko II, witnesses claimed party operatives openly approached voters with cash incentives despite the presence of electoral officials and security personnel.
Several voters who spoke during the election exercise described the practice as widespread, alleging that similar inducements were taking place at multiple polling units across the community.
The allegations surfaced shortly after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visited Polling Unit 003, Foutage of Oyebanji Okelele, Ward 06, Ikogosi, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, following concerns over possible electoral malpractice.
About 10 EFCC officials reportedly arrived at the polling station shortly after voting commenced and monitored activities in the area. As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been announced.
Ahead of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), anti-corruption agencies, and civil society groups had warned political actors against voter inducement and other forms of electoral misconduct.
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