The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has deployed its operatives across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory to monitor the council elections and curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
The deployment was disclosed in a statement by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, as the Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the conduct of the polls in the nation’s capital.
Oyewale said the operation is part of EFCC’s mandate to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure transparency and accountability.
“The EFCC has deployed its officers across all the area councils of the FCT to ensure strict surveillance and prevent incidents of vote buying and other electoral malpractices,” he said.
According to him, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has charged the deployed officers to remain vigilant throughout the exercise.
“Our officers are all over the FCT safeguarding the electoral process to ensure a transparent and accountable conduct of the elections,” Oyewale added.
Meanwhile, residents of the FCT turned out early to elect their area council chairmen and councillors, with voters gathering at various polling units to cast their ballots.
Security was visibly heightened across the territory, as police authorities and other security agencies were deployed to maintain law and order. Movement was also restricted to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.
INEC disclosed that more than 1.5 million eligible voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the council elections.
Unlike the 36 states of the federation where local government elections are conducted by state electoral bodies, the FCT council polls are handled by INEC. This is because the FCT is administered by a minister appointed by the President, rather than an elected governor.
