OndoDecides2024: EFCC Officials Seen Monitoring Polling Units Amid Vote-Buying Allegations
Reports of vote-buying surfaced at several polling units in Ondo State during Saturday’s governorship election, with allegations of voters receiving money in exchange for their ballots.
At Ward 02, Polling Unit 3 in Eruoba, and Polling Unit 17, Egbedi Ward 11, Owode Imuagun in Akure, PUNCH Online observed suspicious activity as voters appeared to engage in vote trading. Both polling units are situated in the Arakale Market Area of Akure Local Government.
At Eruoba Ward, voters were reportedly paid an undisclosed sum of money shortly after casting their ballots, with a designated individual overseeing the process. Meanwhile, in Owode Imuagun, voters were seen writing down their names after voting, and were then directed to a nearby building where they were handed an undisclosed amount of cash.
As concerns about vote-buying escalated, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were spotted along Arakale Road, closely monitoring the election activities. Despite their presence, no arrests were made by the EFCC by the time our correspondent left the area.
