Nigerian anti-corruption agency seizes 65,000 euros intended for vote buying

25 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency, has seized more than 32.4 million nairas (about 65,000 euros) in recent hours to buy votes in this Saturday’s elections in the African country .

The seizure is part of a “massive operation” by the EFCC to “deter vote trading and other financial misappropriation before the elections,” according to the agency’s Twitter account.

The operation was carried out by operatives from the Commission’s Zonal Command in Lagos and during it a suspect who is being interrogated was arrested.

The agency recalls that “tactical teams of operatives are currently on the ground in all states of the country” and there are several telephone lines available to the public to “share information about financial malpractices” during this election day, marked by the race for electing the successor to the president, Muhammadu Buhari, and the humanitarian and security crisis that the African country has been going through for years.

Buhari cannot stand for re-election because he has already served the maximum two terms established by the Constitution, which has opened a dispute that on this occasion has a third way that confronts the two parties that have traditionally dominated the Nigerian politician.

Thus, while Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Party (APP) has nominated former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu as its candidate and the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in polls it has emerged with Peter Obi, also an opponent of the Labor Party, is also a force. They are joined by former Kano Governor Raibu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian People’s Party.

The four appear as the main favorites for the Presidency, although there are a total of 18 candidates in the running, while more than 4,200 people have applied for one of the 469 seats in the National Assembly. The elections will be complemented in two weeks by the vote on March 11 of 28 of the 36 state governors.