Security operatives have arrested a high-profile politician and governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in yesterday’s governorship elections in Kogi State, Olayinka Braimoh.
This was even as the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said they have recovered the sum of over N11 Million from vote buyers across the three States: Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo where the Off-season Governship election was held yesterday, November 11.
Reports reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the AA Governship candidate was arrested along with seven of his security details after campaign materials were allegedly found in his car.
His media aide, Musa Yakubu, who confirmed the arrest to journalists, said that his principal and those with him were arrested in Kabba.
Yakubu had earlier raised the alarm over the AA candidate’s whereabouts before he could confirm his arrest.
“The last time I heard from him was in the morning when he called from Kabba town, but all attempts to get through to him since that time proved abortive.
“His mobile lines have been switched off, including his entourage,” he told newsmen.
It was learnt that a local government chairman and a senior Kogi State Government official were also nabbed during the election with ammunition and other dangerous weapons.
This was even as the the EFCC, in a statement, announced the arrest of 14 people for alleged vote buying, saying that the suspects were arrested during operations across voting centres in the three states.
The anti-graft agency said a total of N11.04 million cash was recovered from the apprehended vote buyers and sellers.
This includes N9.31 million intercepted in Bayelsa State and N1.73 million seized in Imo State.
Two vehicles were also impounded from the suspects, who were mostly arrested around polling units and playgrounds being used as vote trading centers.
The EFCC said that the 14 detainees will be charged to court after investigations are completed.
The commission said that the arrests were part of efforts to tackle electoral malpractices, including vote buying that could undermine the integrity of the off-cycle governorship elections.
The statement reads: “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 14 suspected vote buyers in Otuoke, Adawari playgrounds in Bayelsa State and at various polling units in Imo and Kogi States.
“They were arrested on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in intelligence – driven operations that commenced several days before the ongoing governorship elections in the three states.
“Also, a total sum of N11,040,000 comprising N9,310,000 intercepted from suspected vote buyers and sellers in Bayelsa and N1,730,000 intercepted from electoral fraud suspects across Imo State, were also recovered from them.
“Also, two vehicles were intercepted from the suspects. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
