On Wednesday, Abdul Rasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions, expressed concern over political leaders’ intentions to purchase votes during the general elections not only with cash but also in kind.
He stated this in an interview for The 2023 Verdict, a Channels Television election program.
The chairman of the EFCC urged citizens to report vote buying, vote selling, or other signs of financial malpractices after confirming that all of the organization’s officers had been sent to monitor the polls in all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said, “We have an intel that a lot of politicians have bought some items that they will use to buy votes in kind and not in cash. But we are prepared for any situation and will not hesitate to anyone caught in the act. We will watch out for all these things on election day.
Bawa also disclosed that corrupt businessmen, public officials, and not just governors are stockpiling old and new naira notes in an effort to influence the outcome of the presidential election that is set to take place on Saturday.
According to him, the EFCC is aware of the tactics used by vote buyers and officials of the commission are prepared to handle any situation that may arise.
“I don’t want to say only governors are hoarding naira notes, there are public servants out there doing the same thing or some businessmen with questionable characters are still having these funds in their homes. So, I don’t want to say governors are these but I will say that public servants, either retired or serving and some businessmen with questionable characters are on our radar.
“The biggest hurdle is if Nigerians don’t buy into what we are doing but I believe once we are united, we would be able to take inadequacies out of our system,” he stated.