Security operatives have arrested some individuals, including officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with huge cash in Ogun and Kaduna states, set aside for vote-buying ahead of the recent by-elections there.
In Kaduna, a suspected agent was arrested with about N25 million, said to be for vote-buying at the bye-elections.
In a statement, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan said the suspect, Shehu Patangi was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning at a popular hotel located along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis, where he was said to be coordinating the distribution of funds for vote buying to influence voters in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election.
The statement disclosed that a total cash of N25, 963m was recovered from the suspect, believed to be earmarked to induce voters to compromise the electoral process
According to the police, the suspect, during preliminary interrogation, confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.
Similarly, security operatives in Ogun State arrested some persons suspected to be officials of the INEC with a large sum of money ahead of the by-election in the state.
The suspected INEC officials were arrested alongside a politician allegedly plotting to buy votes during the election.
The politician and the INEC officials who were seen being questioned in a video clip posted on social media on Saturday were said to have been nabbed at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.
In the video, which is currently going viral, the INEC officials, a male and a female, and alleged PDP officers could be seen squatting and being interrogated by an unidentified security personnel.