Six Arrested For Vote Buying In Rivers

Six persons have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  in Rivers state for alleged vote trading and other electoral offences during the 2023 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections.

The suspects were arrested at different locations by the Port Harcourt zonal command of the EFCC.

The Head, Public Affairs of the Command, Mrs Akpos Mezeh-Ekisowei disclosed this while speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Mezeh-Ekisowei stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as Investigations were concluded.

According to her, the arrests were made following the intelligence and alertness of its operatives on the ground during the elections.

According to her,” Because the EFCC is on the ground to make sure that we stop those who want to sell and buy votes.

“We had to send our officers into the field to apprehend such persons. Some arrests were made in Port Harcourt. A total of six persons were arrested.

“The EFCC really worked very hard during the 2023 presidential and governorship elections.”

Mrs Mezeh-Ekisowei further said politicians had devised other means of vote buying at the polling units during the poll due to the scarcity of cash.

“There were lots of complaints that some people were selling votes, some people were buying votes.

“We received about one hundred calls and because the EFCC is on the ground to make sure that it stops those who want to sell and buy votes, even with the issue of lack of physical cash.

“There were other means that these people buy votes. You know one of the means is that they write down their names and telephone numbers.

“It was alleged that these persons have promised to send money to them,” the command spokesperson stated.