* We’re not aware of it, says voter education officer
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has apprehended an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the Imo State governorship election, allegedly in possession of a huge sum of money.
The INEC official, whose name was not disclosed, was apprehended at Polling Unit 005, Township Primary School, Ikenegbu 1, in the Owerri Municipal LGA.
According to reports, the money was allegedly given to the official by an unnamed party for the purpose of vote-buying, a pervasive issue that compromises the integrity of elections in Nigeria.
The ICPC and EFCC had deployed officers to monitor off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa to counter electoral fraud, including vote buying and selling.
Earlier reports alleged that party agents in the off-cycle election in Kogi State resorted to offering financial incentives to voters in Lokoja to secure their votes for their respective candidates.
The agents were reportedly stationed about 500 meters from the polling units, distributing cash to voters in exchange for their support. The amounts ranged from N3,000 to N5,000, depending on the bargaining skills of the voter.
But the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Emmanuela Ben Opara, dismissed the allegation, stating that INEC is not aware of the incidents.