EFCC arrests 20 over vote buying, electoral offences in FCT polls

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 20 suspects for alleged electoral offences during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.

The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, noting that the arrests were made across different area councils in the FCT.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended for offences ranging from obstruction of electoral officers to vote buying and vote selling, involving a total sum of N17,218,700.

Oyewale revealed that one of the suspects was arrested with N13.5 million discovered in a vehicle parked close to a polling unit in Kwali Area Council.

He further broke down the arrests, stating that two suspects were picked up in Abaji, nine in Gwagwalada, four in Kuje and four in Kwali.

The EFCC spokesman added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The arrests underscore heightened surveillance by anti-graft agencies during the FCT elections, as authorities move to curb electoral malpractice and enforce compliance with electoral laws.