The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of three suspected vote buyers in Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.

The suspects, Emeka Ilokasia, Nwachukwu Loretta, and Emuka Chuwudi, were apprehended in different political wards across the state while allegedly engaging in vote buying.

In a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the anti-graft agency said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The arrests followed concerns raised by the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who decried the widespread cases of vote buying during the poll.

Mr Obi, who voted at Polling Unit 019, Agulu II, in the Anaocha Local Government Area, lamented that voters were being induced with cash ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000.

“Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be fuelling it,” Mr Obi told journalists after casting his ballot. “What you see is vote buying to the tune of N20,000, N30,000, and N50,000.”

Similarly, some international and local observers who monitored the exercise expressed concern over reports of vote buying and poor voter turnout across the state.

Reports by Yiaga Africa, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) II, and other partner organisations indicated that voter participation was low in most polling units across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.