By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Independent National Electoral Commission, Benue State Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) Prof. Samuel Egwu has appealed for more collaboration with the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in tackling election-based fraudulent practices.
Egwu made the appeal on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 during a courtesy visit to the Makurdi Zonal Commander, Friday Ebelo, in his office.
According to him, “In the last two elections in 2022, we received big support from EFCC, especially in Benue State; we have a large space to work together. The Commission is a critical stakeholder to INEC. The issue of vote buying is not good enough for our democracy and the practice was reduced to some extent due to the collaboration between the EFCC and INEC. We are looking forward to further close interaction with the Commission”.
The Zonal Commander, ACE1 Friday Ebelo, in his response, thanked the REC for the visit, stating that collaboration and synergy between the EFCC and INEC is not new.
“We are sister agencies, have the same father and must work together as one. We must do the right things, find a way to protect our democracy; we must go out and use voter education in calling on the electorates to shun vote buying which will ultimately build confidence in the system. We are here together and this is a special role we have to perform for the peace of our country”, he said.
