According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its agents have arrested Cletus Tyokyaa, the director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign council in Benue, on suspicion of vote buying.
In a statement released on Saturday, the agency stated that Tyokyaa was detained at the RCM polling unit in Daudu, Guma LGA of the state, with N306,700 stowed in his vehicle.
It was stated that Tyokyaa, a lecturer at the Sarwuan Tarka University (previously known as the University of Agriculture) in Makurdi, the state capital, could not present a legitimate reason for visiting the polling station.
“The suspect’s luck ran out when he drove to a different voting center than his polling unit and attempted to flee upon spotting Commission agents,” the statement continues.
“When queried about his goal at the facility, Dr. Tyokyaa was unable to provide a clear reply, resulting in his detention; a search of his vehicle found various amounts of currency.”
It was stated that Tyokyaa was released after making a voluntary testimony to the commission.
In a related development, the EFCC reported that it had detained a man on suspicion of purchasing votes with N194,000 at the Gidan Zakka polling unit in the Goron Dutse area of Kano Municipal LGA, Kano state.
In addition, a party agent was arrested in the federal capital territory (FCT) of Abaji for allegedly purchasing votes through bank transfers, and two individuals named Stanley Nsemo and Eno Amponsah were arrested in Calabar, Cross River state with $450 and N156,800 on suspicion of buying votes.
In a sting operation in the Badarwa region of Kaduna state, EFCC agents reportedly apprehended a woman with 18 voter cards.
Maryam Mamman Alhaji, a member of the support group of one of the leading political parties, was also in possession of a 17-page list containing the names of eligible voters, their bank details, and their phone numbers as accredited under Badarwa/Malali Ward 01 and 08, Kaduna North LGA, Kaduna state, according to the anti-corruption agency.
“She was apprehended when undercover agents pretended to be anxious to sell voter identification cards,” the EFCC stated.
“She is currently being interrogated by agents of the EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Command in an effort to identify other members of her syndicate who, according to her, are also collecting voters’ cards and paying money through point-of-sale or direct bank transfers.”