- Vows To Track Vote Buying Syndicates
- We Were Mobilized To Pay N6000 Per Vote In Each Pulling Units - Suspects Confessed
Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arrested two suspects in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area who were allegedly involved in voting buying in the area.
The Special Tracking Squad of the commission deployed to the state by the force headquarters, Abuja arrived the Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday, which according to the team head is led by Abdulkareem Musa.
The leader said that the commission responded quickly base on information sent to the hot lines of EFCC by concern citizens of the State notifying and alerting the force headquarters about ongoing vote buying by politicians and their agents in the State.
Musa said that it is information Akwa Ibom people sent to the force headquarters at Abuja about the incessant vote buying and selling which they said as become very rampant, prompted quick intervention of the commission, by deploying its special tracking force to the State.
"It has become very imperative for the commission to response immediately to vote buying and selling issue which is very rampant in Akwa Ibom.
To sanitize our electoral system so that law abiding citizens of the State can exercise their franchise without any financial inducement, that is why the commission has decided to deploy its Special Tracking Team to curb this electoral menace in the State".
For some days now, calls and text messages from concern citizens of the State have flooded our emergency lines. That is why the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has deployed this special tracking squad to Akwa Ibom State to deal decisively with anybody caught involved in vote buying and selling". Abdulkareemn Musa explained.
Musa also said that the commission has provided electronic devices to track all destinations and geographical points where vote buying and selling are taking place in Akwa Ibom State, adding that it was the help of the devices that they tracked two Suspects; Mr. Aniefiok Okon Umoh and Mr. Felix Etim Ukpon who were involved in vote buying in Nsit Ibom L.G.A.
He also warned those who are involved or are planning to engage in vote buying and selling to stay clear from such criminal act, while making case that any one caught in such act will be dealt with according to the law.
Musa further hinted that the people of State should be very vigilant and report any vote buying and selling case to EFCC or call emergency lines: 08036076316, 097831798, 0819153423 and 08036076316, according to him the Special Tracking Squad will respond immediately.
He pointed out that the squad sent to the State on its arrival has arrested two Suspects who have been sent to the force headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation, adding that the special tracking squad is on ground to fight all forms of vote buying and selling in the State.
Musa also told newsmen that the two Suspects; Mr. Enefiok Okon Umoh and Mr. Felix Etim Ukpon have confessed that they were mobilized by a top government official in Nsit Ibom L.G.A (named withheld) to canvass for votes by mobilizing at least 150 voters in each pulling unit for Saturday's governorship and House of Assembly election.
"They confessed that their sponsors is a government official who also held from the same Local Government Area.
The two suspects said that they were instructed to mobilize people who will vote for the party of their sponsors as they have been told by their sponsors that the State Government has budgeted N6000 per voter in each pulling unit and that the State Government which their sponsors are working for is expecting at least 150 votes in each unit across all 2,900 pulling units in the State.
"They also confessed that their sponsors told them that what is expected from them is thorough mobilization through text messages and phone calls from voters' numbers they gathered during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election".
"Through our interrogation before the Suspects were transferred to our headquarters, the Suspects further confessed that they told that part of the money (N2000) would be available today Monday while balance of N4000 will be paid to voters after they voted for their candidates on Saturday". Abdulkareemn Musa told newsmen.
Reacting to the incident, the people of the States have condemned in strong terms the unfortunate incident, describing it has desperation taken so far by the State Government to return to power by all means.
Many who spoke with Sensor Correspondent strictly on condition of anonymity expressed their displeasure on the what they called irrational mannerism of incumbent governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel to return to power by all means.
One of them said that many retirees who retired since 2015-2018 have not received their pensions and gratuity but the same government is planning to spend billions of naira on his reelection.
According to him, "this is wickedness of the highest order".
Another speaker told our correspondent that the governor will fail Saturday's election, adding that his largesse will not win votes for him. He decried unfortunate circumstances in the State where many qualified graduates are roaming the streets in search for job but the governor is planning to spend over N2.6 billion to buy votes.
(C) Censor Newspaper
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