Twenty suspected vote buyers are in the net of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over Saturday, February 21, area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity of the commission, on Sunday said the suspects were arrested across the FCT for offences ranging from vote buying, vote selling to obstruction of officers to the tune of N17, 218, 700. (Seventeen Million, Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira only).
One of the suspects was arrested with a sum of N13,500,000 (Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in a car parked beside a polling booth in the Kwali local government area.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Abaji; nine in Gwagwalada; four in Kuje and the remaining four in Kwali.
The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
In the just-concluded election, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, recorded a landslide victory in Saturday’s Area Council polls in Abuja, securing five of the six chairmanship positions.
The feat is widely credited to the political manoeuvring of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, whose behind-the-scenes negotiations, reconciliatory meetings, and strategic interventions reshaped the contest in key councils.
The contest was however marred by issues of low voter turnout, allegations of vote‑buying, political intimidation, and criticisms from opposition parties and civil society groups.
APC consolidates control of AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji, Kuje, while Gwagwalada was won by Mohammed Kasim of the PDP believed to be an ally of the FCT minister.
