After The Election Storm: EFCC Pursues Voters Who Forced Officials Out Of Polling Units

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched efforts to identify and track down individuals who allegedly forced its operatives out of a polling unit during the Ekiti State governorship election held on June 20, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The election ultimately saw the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the winner of the poll.

According to EFCC officials who spoke with Punch, the incident occurred at Polling Unit 10, Ward B, in Iyin-Ekiti, where operatives of the anti-graft agency had been deployed to monitor and prevent vote-buying during the election.

The officials said some voters challenged the presence of the EFCC team at the polling unit, questioning the basis for their deployment and confronting them in a manner that compelled the operatives to leave the area.

Despite the development, voting reportedly continued peacefully after the officials withdrew from the polling station.

However, EFCC sources described the incident as a serious violation of the law and warned that those responsible could face prosecution.

One official stated that the commission viewed the action as an obstruction of its statutory duties and an attack on its mandate to monitor electoral offences.

“We consider the incident unlawful and unacceptable. The commission will not tolerate acts of criminality, and efforts are ongoing to identify those involved,” the source said.

The official further expressed concern that failure to address the incident could encourage similar actions in future elections.

“Allowing such behaviour to go unchecked would create a dangerous precedent. It could embolden individuals to obstruct law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate responsibilities during elections.

“If investigations confirm what happened, we will take appropriate action against those involved. We intend to identify them and determine the necessary legal steps.

“No one has the right to prevent officials of the commission from performing duties assigned to them by law,” the source added.

The EFCC reiterated its commitment to combating vote-buying and other electoral offences, stressing that it would not be deterred by intimidation or resistance.

“Vote-buying remains a serious offence, and we will continue to fight it. We will not be intimidated, harassed, or discouraged from carrying out our responsibilities.

“Our mandate is to help safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, and we remain fully committed to that responsibility regardless of any challenges we may encounter,” the official said.