Some Governorship Aspirants Spent ₦30bn to Secure Party Tickets — EFCC Reveals
By Peace Erewunmi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns over the rising cost of elections in Nigeria, revealing that some governorship aspirants spent between ₦20 billion and ₦30 billion to secure party tickets and contest elections.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure during a lecture at the University of Ilorin, where he spoke on the financial implications of Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, the huge financial expenditure covers party primaries, campaign activities, election logistics, and post-election litigation.
He warned that the trend poses a serious threat to democratic governance, as it increases the likelihood of corruption after elections.
Olukoyede explained that politicians who spend such huge sums often view public office as an investment, creating pressure to recover funds through unethical means.
The EFCC boss also noted that the commission is working with stakeholders to strengthen electoral monitoring and curb vote-buying ahead of future elections.
He called on political parties, security agencies, and electoral bodies to collaborate in ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC maintained that the figures were based on its internal assessment of election-related spending patterns across the country.
