EFCC Pursues Voters Behind Disruption of Operatives in Ekiti
By Solomon Odeniyi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun efforts to identify and track voters who allegedly forced its operatives out of a polling unit during the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, according to information obtained by The PUNCH.
Officials of the anti-graft agency who spoke on Tuesday condemned the incident, describing it as illegal and a troubling development that should not be tolerated.
One EFCC official said the commission viewed the action as interference with its lawful duties and warned that those responsible could face prosecution.
“The commission considers the incident unlawful and unacceptable. We will not tolerate acts of criminality, and we are already searching for those involved,” the official stated.
The source added that the EFCC was worried about the broader implications of the event, warning that allowing such conduct to go unchallenged could undermine future election monitoring efforts.
“This creates a dangerous precedent. If individuals are allowed to obstruct law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate assignments during elections, it could encourage similar actions elsewhere.
“We are taking the matter seriously and will investigate thoroughly. Those responsible will be identified, and appropriate action will be taken. No one has the right to hinder EFCC officials from performing their statutory responsibilities,” the official said.
The commission also reaffirmed its commitment to combating vote-buying and other electoral offences, insisting it would not be deterred by intimidation or resistance.
“Vote-buying remains a serious offence, and we will continue to fight it. We will not be intimidated or discouraged by any form of harassment. Our mandate is to help protect the integrity of the electoral process, and we remain committed to that responsibility,” the official added.
The incident occurred during Saturday’s governorship election at Polling Unit 10, Ward B, in Iyin-Ekiti, where EFCC operatives had reportedly been deployed to monitor vote-buying activities.
Witnesses said some voters challenged the presence of the anti-corruption officials, questioning their role at the polling station. The confrontation eventually led to the operatives withdrawing from the area.
Despite the altercation, the EFCC personnel reportedly left without incident, and voting proceeded peacefully.
The commission has increasingly played a role in election monitoring across Nigeria, particularly in efforts to curb vote-buying and financial inducements that threaten the credibility of elections.
However, the Ekiti incident has raised concerns within the agency about the safety of its personnel and the ability of law enforcement officers to effectively enforce electoral laws during polling exercises.
Attempts to obtain comments from EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.