By Opeyemi Adelakun
Rights activist and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its handling of alleged vote-buying during elections, accusing the agency of failing to effectively tackle the practice.
Yesufu made the remarks on Saturday while reacting to reports of alleged voter inducement during the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
In a post on social media, the activist expressed frustration over the persistence of vote-buying, arguing that citizens who abide by electoral laws often end up disadvantaged, while those involved in illicit practices gain political advantage.
According to her, the continued prevalence of vote-buying has undermined the integrity of elections and weakened public confidence in the democratic process.
She questioned the effectiveness of enforcement efforts against electoral offences, alleging that anti-corruption agencies appear inactive when such practices occur during elections.
Using sarcasm to highlight her concerns, Yesufu suggested that if authorities were unwilling to stop vote-buying, political parties might as well abandon expensive campaigns and openly compete through financial inducements on election day.
She stressed, however, that the situation reflects a deeper problem within Nigeria’s electoral system and called for decisive action to curb the practice.
Her comments come amid reports of alleged electoral malpractice in parts of Ekiti State. The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, had earlier alleged incidents of vote-buying and cash distribution in his polling area, claiming that security personnel and electoral officials failed to intervene.
The allegations have added to growing concerns from election observers and stakeholders over the conduct of the governorship election.
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