Vote-buying: We will monitor, deal with perpetrators

Kogi’s politicians are subject to oversight by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, or ICPC.

This was revealed by Ulu Okoro-James, the director of the Kogi ICPC Office, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja.

“Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections are of utmost importance to the entire country.

“The interception in Lagos of the sum of N32,400,000 (Thirty-two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira), allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos, may have begun paying dividends with the massive operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and national assembly elections,” the statement reads.

The suspect implicated has been brought into jail for further interrogation. “The recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission.

He cautioned the electorate from falling for any tricks to buy or sell votes because both would be subject to the same penalties outlined in the Election Act.

While addressing security issues in Kogi, he called the cooperation of the 17 security personnel working in the state “appropriate” and “quite encouraging.”

In order to allow for significant progress, Mr. Okoro-James expressed the expectation that the election process in Kogi this time around will be very peaceful and fruitful.

NAN