March 22, (THEWILL) — As part of the attempt to check the widespread ant-democratic practice of vote buying in the upcoming general elections in 2027, the National Assembly inserted the new two modes of primary election for political parties in the Electoral Act 2026 passed into law by President Bola Tinubu on February 19, 2026. These are direct and consensus means. The delegates and indirect modes of primary election were removed from the new law. In indirect primary, the members elect delegates that will represent them at the local state and national congresses in the election of candidates, whereas the opposite is the case in direct where only registered members are allowed to choose their preferred candidates. In consensus the operative word in direct primary mode is registered members, those who are up to date with the payment of membership dues, monthly levies and regular participation in the party’s activities, unlike in the Electoral Act 2020 which did not include this restriction and thus allowed a candidate to purchase membership cards for his recruits just to take part in the primary. Delegates were known to abandon the wishes of their delegation and cash their votes for the highest bidder at the convention.
Pundits say the new Section 84, particularly subsection 2, which declares: “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct means or through consensus,” now defines who, between the people, managers or governors and power brokers, own the parties.
It is in this light that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, AANISS, have agreed to work towards credible elections by tackling vote buying and other acts of electoral fraud.
According to the President of AANISS, Mike Ejiofor, who led other executives of his Association on a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, on March 17, 2025 at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. Vote buying is a huge blow to democratic governance if left untamed and eradicated.
Ejiofor who is a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, disclosed that his association would be organising an annual lecture towards this end, with the theme, ‘Credible Elections in Nigeria and National Security,’ stressing that the focus of the lecture drew the Association to the EFCC in recognition of the Commission’s efforts against vote buying. Ejiofor noted that credible elections are fundamental to good governance and national security.
“I must commend the EFCC, because I see the arrests you made over vote buying, which is the greatest challenge we are facing right now in the electoral process. I must commend you,” he said.
He urged the Commission to intensify its efforts and improve its modalities against vote buying as the 2027 election year draws closer. “As the general election is coming up in 2027, you should intensify and work out more modalities to ensure that vote buying is curtailed. We’re also available to cooperate with you. We will collaborate with the EFCC in terms of consultancy and advice. If you need resource persons, we are available to assist,” he said.
Olukoyede, in his response, acknowledged that battling vote buying falls within EFCC’s mandate and the Commission had been playing a critical role in that respect with an impressive number of convictions to show for it. With regards to the 2027 general election, he said the Commission would not wait until Election Day to go into action. According to him, contingent planning and intelligence gathering are crucial to tackle fraudulent actors in any electoral process.
Moreover, the EFCC boss urged AANISS’ members to brace up to be champions of national security. He pointed out that a strong nexus existed between national security, financial crimes and corruption, which he said made collaboration between the EFCC and AANISS compelling. “There’s this strong link between national security and financial crimes and that is where we need our collaboration. We need to collaborate and synergise. We need you to support the agencies to ensure that we fulfil our mandate,” he said.
The EFFCC boss restated his focus on using the anti-corruption war to support security agencies, guarantee stability in the economy and to reduce the propensity of fraudulent actors towards corruption and financial crimes. In doing this, prevention, he said, will continue to be fundamental.
He urged AANISS to utilise the opportunity of its lectures to admonish Nigerians and give talks on the issue of financial crimes. “If we don’t take the issue of the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes as a national policy, there is no way we can find security. They are like Siamese twins. They are tied together. So, we need your cooperation. Even more, we need your support,” he said.
In a critique on vote buying, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Federal University, Lafia, AI Chukwudi Okoli, says research has shown that vote-buying has been part of the Nigerian political culture, which has, however assumed a wider dimension since the return to democracy in 1999.
According to him, vote buying occurs at two important stages of the electioneering process: The delegate level and the electorate level. At the delegate level, the transaction is between a party delegate and a politician who is vying for a party ticket to run for an election.
“At the electorate level, it is between a voter and a political party which is seeking to win in an election. Vote buying can be direct or indirect. Direct buying is a transaction unmediated by an agent while indirect buying involves a third-person actor or an agent, who facilitates the transaction. Vote buying can also be wholesale or retail. It is wholesale when the intent is to buy the votes collectively. Retail buying involves individualised transactions.
“Sometimes votes are bought in advance. In these instances, a group of voters is handed money (or an equivalent gift) in exchange for their votes in a subsequent election.
“In these scenarios politics is seen as an investment opportunity. Politicians and political entrepreneurs invest fortunes in party politics in the hope of reaping huge returns in terms of monetary and non-monetary rewards, such as employment and admission offers. There is evidence that the practice continues. In the 2022 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, voters were wooed by party agents with inducement offers ranging from N3,000 to N10,000. In the recent Municipal Council polls in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the same pattern was on display.
During its preliminary reports in the just concluded FCT Municipal polls in Abuja, Yiaga Africa has this to say about vote buying. “The persistent menace of vote buying once again manifested during the election. Yiaga Africa observers documented incidents of vote buying at polling units, underscoring the continued vulnerability of the electoral process to monetary inducement.
“Despite prior assurances and directives issued by INEC to security agencies to identify and apprehend both vote buyers and sellers, these illicit practices reportedly continued in several locations.”
According to Okoli, vote buying is possible and feasible in Nigeria because there are willing buyers and willing sellers, guaranteeing a reward of some kind. Until this political culture changes, vote buying will thrive.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
