EFCC Nabs Three Suspected Vote Buyers in Anambra Governorship Election — Crackdown on Electoral Fraud Intensifies

🇳🇬 EFCC Nabs Three Suspected Vote Buyers in Anambra Governorship Election — Crackdown on Electoral Fraud Intensifies

Glintnews Kelechi ~ Awka, Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in vote buying during the keenly contested Anambra State governorship election held on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

The arrests, which took place in different parts of the state, underscore the anti-graft agency’s renewed efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process and uphold electoral integrity.

According to an official statement released by the EFCC, the suspects — identified as Emeka Ilokasia, Nwachukwu Loretta, and Emuka Chuwudi — were apprehended in Njikoka, Oyi, and Dunukofia Local Government Areas respectively.

EFCC operatives deployed for election monitoring reportedly caught the suspects in the act of inducement and vote trading, a criminal practice that undermines the sanctity of the electoral process.

At Njikoka Local Government Area, operatives apprehended Emeka Ilokasia, who was allegedly seen distributing money to voters near a polling center.

In Oyi Local Government, Nwachukwu Loretta was arrested at Polling Unit 008, Ward 2, Awkuzu, following credible intelligence that she was engaging in vote-buying activities.

Similarly, Emuka Chuwudi was arrested at Umunachi village, Dunukofia Local Government Area, while reportedly coordinating financial inducement of voters.

All three suspects are currently in EFCC custody as investigations continue. The Commission disclosed that upon completion of the investigation, the suspects would be charged in court in accordance with Nigeria’s electoral and anti-corruption laws.

Speaking on the development, a senior EFCC official in charge of election monitoring described the arrests as part of the agency’s ongoing drive to “sanitize Nigeria’s political system and discourage the use of money as a tool for manipulating voter choice.”

“Vote buying is a direct assault on democracy. The EFCC will continue to deploy personnel during elections to ensure that Nigerians can freely choose their leaders without undue influence,” the official stated.

The Commission emphasized that electoral offences, particularly those involving financial inducement, distort the will of the people and perpetuate corruption in governance.

The EFCC had earlier deployed tactical teams across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies to monitor compliance with electoral laws.

In recent years, the EFCC has intensified its focus on vote trading, a recurring menace in Nigerian elections. Similar arrests were made during elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States, signaling the agency’s resolve to pursue offenders across the federation.

Observers have commended the EFCC’s proactive stance, noting that such actions help deter political parties and agents from engaging in vote buying — a practice that erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.

Public reaction to the arrests has been mixed. While civil society organizations and electoral observers have lauded the EFCC for its vigilance, some voters expressed concerns about the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and speedy prosecution of offenders.

An election observer in Awka, Mrs. Chika Onwuegbuzie, noted that “vote buying has become a systemic issue. The EFCC’s intervention is commendable, but there must be follow-through — prosecution and conviction — to send a clear message.”

The EFCC reiterated that it remains committed to ensuring that elections across Nigeria are conducted free from the corrupting influence of money. The agency has urged citizens to report any act of vote buying, voter intimidation, or financial inducement during elections.

The Commission assured the public that all suspects will face the full weight of the law once investigations are completed.

“No one is above the law. The EFCC will continue to defend the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement concluded.

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, the actions of anti-graft agencies like the EFCC remain crucial in shaping a future where leadership emerges from genuine public choice rather than financial manipulation.