The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, explained why it is involving anti-graft agencies in the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
According to the electoral commission, the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) in the process was to track vote buyers and sellers during the election. It dismissed fears that it is meant to intimidate voters.
The INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Osaze Oluwole-Uzzi, made the clarification in an interview with newsmen, while reacting to enquiries whether the involvement of anti-corruption agencies would not scare voters.
Recall that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had last week said officials of the EFCC and ICPC would be deployed in polling centres to arrest vote buyers in the forthcoming polls in Bayelsa and Kogi.
While explaining the arrangement, Oluwole-Uzzi said:“If EFCC comes to your house, will you be bothered? Do you have N35m in your bank account? So, you don’t have anything to worry about. It is people who are politically-exposed that should be bothered.
“It is people who either have skeletons in their cupboards or who have had some kinds of dealings or involved in money laundering or unexplained money. We are going to collaborate with the EFCC and the ICPC.”
