The newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kwara State, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpe has paid a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The visit, which took place at the Commission’s office in GRA, Ilorin, was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the two agencies in the discharge of their statutory mandates.
Welcoming the REC, the Ilorin Zonal Director of the EFCC, Daniel Isei, commended INEC for its pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
He reaffirmed the EFCC’s readiness to support the electoral body in ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Kwara State.
He noted that the fight against corruption includes curbing electoral malpractices such as vote buying, bribery, and other forms of financial inducement that undermine the integrity of the polls.
Earlier, Dr. Longpet said that the visit was part of his familiarisation tour to key stakeholders in the state and a demonstration of INEC’s commitment to partnering with anti-graft agencies in the quest to deepen democracy.
He stressed that credible elections require the joint effort of all stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability before, during, and after the electoral process.
While outlining his vision for electoral administration in the state, Dr. Longpet emphasised the need for citizens to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
He disclosed that about 166,800 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in Kwara as at today.
“I want to boost the voting strength of Kwara, but I cannot do that without people coming out to participate in voter registration,” he said, urging residents to collect their PVCs and register to vote in future elections.
Areas of Collaboration
Both agencies identified key areas of collaboration, including intelligence sharing on electoral offences, joint sensitisation campaigns to educate the public against vote trading, and the prompt prosecution of electoral offenders.
The REC expressed optimism that with the EFCC’s support, incidences of financial inducement during elections could be drastically reduced, thereby enhancing public confidence in the process.
The meeting ended on a note of mutual commitment, with both parties pledging to work closely in the interest of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law.
Confidence Okwuchi