The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed operatives across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of and during the Area Council elections on February 21, 2026, to monitor and prevent financial malpractices linked to the polls, the agency said on Saturday. Officials say their presence is part of a broader effort to ensure transparent, accountable and credible grassroots elections in the nation’s capital.

According to a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, teams have been positioned at key polling centres, collation points and strategic locations across the six FCT area councils to watch for activities such as vote buying, bribery, illegal use of funds and corrupt inducement schemes that can compromise electoral integrity.

Uwujaren said the commission’s operatives have been given clear directives to work in collaboration with other security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to detect and address offences under the EFCC Establishment Act, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the Electoral Act.

He added that the EFCC is particularly focused on situations where candidates, party agents or their collaborators attempt to use illicit financial inducements to influence voters or manipulate results. Uwujaren reiterated that any persons found engaging in or facilitating such acts will be investigated and prosecuted, reinforcing the commission’s zero tolerance stance on corruption and electoral fraud.

In past elections, the EFCC has arrested individuals caught transporting large sums of cash, distributing cash gifts and looting campaign funds in ways that violate election laws. The deployment in the FCT this weekend is intended to discourage similar schemes and strengthen public confidence in the election process.

Civil society groups and election observers have welcomed the EFCC’s involvement while also urging voters to remain alert and report suspicious financial transactions during the polls. INEC officials have likewise expressed appreciation for collaboration, saying that safeguarding the process from corrupt practices is “critical to credible elections” in the FCT.