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Paul Orude Bauchi and Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC in Kaduna, Mailafia Yakubu, has warned against vote buying during the governorship and State Assembly elections tomorrow.
Yakubu described vote buying as a big crime that attracts 12 years in prison or an option of fine of N500, 000.00.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on the Kaduna State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday, Yakubu, urged journalists to help in the fight against corruption.
He said the commission has a way of tracking down vote sellers and buyers, but will not disclose such strategy for security reasons.
He commended journalists for making EFCC a success story in the state, adding, “I’m a friend to all, in order to make my work a success.
“The election is here, and we’ll like to tell members of the public that vote buying is a big crime. We all owe the state and the country a duty to expose culprits.
“Any offender of vote buying, if eventually found guilty, he or she will spend 12 years in prison, or an option of N500, 000.00 fine.
“We are ever ready to partner journalists and NUJ in general, in the fight against corruption, as well as the fight against vote buying in this election period,” he said.
Earlier, the NUJ chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf, thanked the EFCC boss for the visit, and assured that the state council is always prepared to partner the commission for the benefit of the larger society.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bauchi State has recorded shortfall in distrubition of sensitive materials in the state, ahead of tomorrow’s governorhsip and state assembly elections.
It has also commenced distribution of sensitive materials to seven out or 20 local government areas of the state.
Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Ahmed Waziri, made the disclosure while addressing journalists, yesterday.
He said the distribution to all the council areas would be completed today.
On the shortages, Waziri said all the electoral officers have been directed to confirm all the sensitive materials given to them, to ascertain the exact number and report back, if they have any shortage.
“We directed all the 20 LGAs to check all their materials, to make sure they tally with the number of registered voters. We also told them to make sure they distribute them to the registered areas as well as to polling units and report, immediately, to the appropriate authorities, if they discover any shortfalls.
Waziri disclosed that there was a report of a shortfall in Shira and Disina Constituencies in Shira Local Government Area.
‘’We over-supplied materials to Shira constituency, and for Disina, there is a shortfall, all of which we have reported to the National Headquarters,” he said.
