ABUJA, Nigeria — Police in Nigeria arrested a lawmaker who allegedly was carrying practically $500,000 in money in a battleground state a day earlier than the nation’s presidential and parliamentary elections, elevating contemporary considerations Friday in regards to the affect of cash within the vote.

Chinyere Igwe, a member of Nigeria’s Home of Representatives, was discovered touring with the cash inside a bag in his automobile round 2 a.m. together with a distribution checklist, Rivers state police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko mentioned.

It’s unlawful to maneuver undeclared money of greater than $10,000 in Nigeria. Authorities had been interrogating the lawmaker Friday, Iringe-Koko mentioned.

Authorities in Kano state, in the meantime, introduced the arrests of greater than 60 “suspected thugs with harmful weapons” after supporters of political events clashed Thursday. Native media reported one individual was burned to demise within the clashes.

Nigerian voters are heading to the polls Saturday to pick out a brand new president following the second and closing time period of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. Additionally they are electing a brand new nationwide legislature.

Three front-runners have emerged from a subject of 18 presidential candidates, together with the ruling social gathering’s Bola Tinubu and the primary opposition social gathering’s Atiku Abubakar. Most polls have favored Peter Obi, a third-party hopeful.

The election comes amid a forex scarcity in Africa’s most populous nation, elevating considerations about whether or not it would have an effect on voter turnout. Authorities introduced the change to a brand new naira word in November, however the change has led to shortfalls of financial institution notes nationwide.

On the similar time, there have been doubts in regards to the capacity of Nigerian authorities to curb the affect of cash within the nation’s elections.

Observer teams have documented political events making funds starting from 500 naira ($1.08) to 10,000 naira ($10.8) to individuals prepared to vote for his or her candidates, a tactic used amid excessive unemployment and poverty charges within the nation.

“Vote shopping for stays a significant risk to our democracy,” Mahmood Yakubu, the pinnacle of Nigeria’s election fee, instructed reporters Thursday.

Using cellphones is prohibited at Nigeria’s voting stations, Yakubu mentioned. Authorities launched the ban to counter voters photographing ballots as proof in change for money from political events.

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Related Press journalist Ibrahim Garba in Kano, Nigeria contributed.