The executive chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning during a townhall meeting on voters sensitisation towards the forthcoming election in Ekpoma, Esan West Local government and at the Famcoop Hall, University of Benin, Benin City.
Ahead of the September 21 Edo Governorship Election, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned against vote buying and selling.
The executive chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning during a townhall meeting on voters sensitisation towards the forthcoming election in Ekpoma, Esan West Local government and at the Famcoop Hall, University of Benin, Benin City.
Represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Williams Oseghale, Head, Public Affairs Department, Benin Zonal Command, Olukoyede reiterated that vote buying and selling were criminal offences as enshrined in the Electoral Act and therefore, anyone caught would face the full strength of the law.
According to a statement by EFCC's Head Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale, the EFCC chairman advised participants at the meeting to take the message to their friends, brothers, sisters and colleagues.
He reminded them that "ignorance is not an excuse in law. That I don't know is not an excuse. The law is against it. So stay away from it."
Citing the Electoral Act, he stated that any person who "buys or offers to buy any voters' card whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both."
The Commission also aired a recorded interview by the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Effa I. Okim, previously aired on the EFCC television programme, The Eagle on Television on the consequences of vote buying.
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