The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is searching for voters who forced its operatives to leave a polling unit during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, The PUNCH has learned.
EFCC officials who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday condemned the incident as unlawful, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that must not be tolerated. According to one official, the commission sees the episode as an attack on its lawful mandate and cautioned that those responsible could face legal consequences.
“We consider the action unacceptable and unlawful. The commission will not condone criminality. We are actively seeking those involved,” the official stated.
The EFCC, the official added, is particularly alarmed by the implications for future elections if such actions go unpunished. “The actions of those voters have set a dangerous precedent. If this is allowed to continue, it could embolden others to obstruct law enforcement officers in the performance of their legitimate duties during elections. We are looking into the incident seriously and will ensure those responsible are identified and held accountable. People cannot simply obstruct commission officials who are carrying out their statutory responsibilities,” the source said.
The official stressed that the EFCC will not be deterred in its fight against vote-buying and other electoral offences. “We insist that vote-buying is wrong, and we will not tolerate it. We will not allow anyone to intimidate us or succumb to harassment. Our commitment to fighting vote-buying and sanitising the electoral process remains unwavering. That responsibility has been entrusted to us, and we will not abandon it due to threats or resistance,” the official added.
During Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, voters at Polling Unit 10, Ward B in Iyin-Ekiti, reportedly confronted EFCC operatives monitoring potential vote-buying. Some voters questioned the operatives’ presence and challenged their deployment, resulting in a confrontation that led the EFCC team to withdraw. The officials left peacefully, and voting continued without disruption.
The EFCC has played an active role in monitoring elections nationwide as part of efforts to curb vote-buying and other forms of financial inducement that undermine the integrity of the electoral process. However, this incident has raised concerns within the agency about the safety of its operatives and the ability of law enforcement personnel to enforce electoral laws effectively.
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
