By Paul Joseph
No fewer than 20 polling agents were arrested on Saturday during council elections held across six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over alleged involvement in vote-buying and other electoral offences.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abaji, Kwali, Kuje and Gwagwalada during the polls, which lasted for more than six hours.
According to official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won chairmanship positions in five of the six councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured victory in one council.
Providing details on Sunday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed that two suspects were arrested in Abaji, nine in Gwagwalada, four in Kuje and four in Kwali.
Oyewale said the suspects were allegedly caught with large sums of money totaling over N30 million intended to induce voters.
“The suspects were arrested across the FCT for offences ranging from vote buying, vote selling to obstruction of officers to the tune of N17,218,700.00,” he said.
He added that one of the suspects was found with N13.5 million in a vehicle parked beside a polling unit in Kwali Area Council.
“Two of the suspects were arrested in Abaji; nine in Gwagwalada; four in Kuje and the remaining four in Kwali,” Oyewale stated.
The EFCC spokesperson noted that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of the probe.
Meanwhile, reactions have begun to trail the conduct of the elections, with some stakeholders commending INEC for the exercise, while others raised concerns over alleged irregularities.
Further developments are expected as investigations continue and legal proceedings commence.
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