#Osun Decides: Three APC agents arrested with ‘money in socks’ for vote-buying
July 16,2022
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have again arrested three men suspected to be agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for alleged vote-buying in the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Osun State.
The agents were nabbed at the polling unit 02, ward 2, Ababa, Ifelodun street, Isale Osun
They were caught with bags of cash as they were “inducing voters” during the electioneering process.
One of them was said to have also kept money in his socks
EFCC operatives said they had a covert operation and everything had been documented
There have been widespread reports of vote-buying in the ongoing Osun State governorship election by the ruling APC and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
INEC had warned of strict enforcement of rules against cash inducement of voters while unveiling its partnership with anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC.
According to some observers of the election, in some of the polling units, the APC agents “rewarded” voters with an amount between N5,000 and N10,000 after casting their votes while the PDP gave N4,000 and above to voters after forcing them to swear an oath in confirmation that they voted for the candidate of the party
At Ward 03, Ikija 11, Polling Unit 002, C.A.C Primary School, Ifetedo, Ife-South Local Government Area, an APC agent reportedly gave a “pass” to those who vote for his party as he directed them to a house close to the polling unit to get N5,000.
Also, at a polling unit located in Salvation Army Grammar School, Alekuwodo in Osogbo the State capital, voters were seen going into a house three blocks away from the polling unit where money was being shared.
According to witnesses, some voters were given N4,000 after showing proof that they voted for the PDP while those who could not show proof of voting for the party were asked to swear before they were given the money
A voter confirmed that they were paid after a woman who claimed to have voted for the PDP was not paid because she refused to swear
