Rights activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of turning a blind eye to vote-buying and other electoral malpractices during elections.
Yesufu made the allegation on Saturday while reacting to reports of vote-buying during the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State.
In a post on her X handle, the activist suggested that vote-buying should be decriminalised if authorities continue to fail in enforcing existing laws against the practice.
According to her, law-abiding citizens are often disadvantaged in elections, while those involved in vote-buying allegedly gain political advantage.
“At this rate, vote-buying should be decriminalised in Nigeria. It does not make sense since it is those who are law-abiding that get punished for it.
“They do not do the vote-buying and they are schemed out while others buy votes and waltz their way into office. The EFCC’s eagle is blindfolded during elections.
“Instead of candidates wasting money on campaigns, let everyone wait for Election Day and bargain.
“The highest bidder wins and you save your money. This nonsense needs to stop,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, allegations of electoral malpractice have continued to trail the Ekiti governorship election.
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, alleged that vote-buying and cash distribution were taking place in his polling unit.
Bejide claimed that officials of the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to respond to complaints raised over the alleged incidents.
Neither INEC nor the police had officially responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
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