EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has warned that excessive election spending and vote-buying are undermining Nigeria’s democracy and driving corruption in public office.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised alarm over the massive sums allegedly spent by some governorship aspirants during elections, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is increasingly being undermined by money politics.
According to Sahara Reporters, Olukoyede disclosed that candidates sometimes spend between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure electoral victories, describing the trend as dangerous for governance and accountability.
He warned that the high cost of elections forces politicians to recoup their investments once in office, fueling corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
“The commercialisation of votes weakens the foundation of good governance because it compromises the political recruitment process,” Olukoyede said.
“Leaders who buy their way into office are more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest.”
The EFCC chairman said the commission had arrested and prosecuted several individuals involved in vote-buying and electoral fraud, including politicians and electoral officials.
He added that the agency would deploy drones and advanced monitoring tools to curb vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olukoyede also called for collaboration among INEC, security agencies, civil society and the media to ensure credible elections.
Speaking at the University of Ilorin during a lecture series organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, he described electoral corruption as a major threat to national stability.
NEWS NOW:
