IKOGOSI, EKITI STATE – Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday stormed the polling unit of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, amid growing concerns over alleged vote-buying in the ongoing governorship election.
About 10 EFCC operatives arrived at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ward 06, Ikogosi, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, at approximately 9:05 a.m. The anti-graft officials were observed monitoring activities around the polling centre shortly after voting commenced at about 8:30 a.m.
Although the EFCC operatives did not immediately disclose the purpose of their deployment, their presence comes amid heightened scrutiny of the election process and allegations of voter inducement in some parts of the state.
Earlier reports indicated that voting commenced smoothly at Governor Oyebanji’s polling unit, where only an agent of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was present despite the participation of several political parties in the election.
The polling unit has a total of 668 registered voters.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC officials remained stationed within and around the polling area, observing electoral activities and interacting with security personnel deployed to the centre. There were no immediate reports of arrests or disruptions to the voting process.
The development comes as security agencies and election observers intensify monitoring across the state following repeated warnings by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and anti-corruption agencies against vote-buying and other electoral offences.
The Ekiti governorship election is being conducted across the state’s 16 local government areas, with Governor Biodun Oyebanji seeking re-election against candidates of several opposition parties.