The postponement of last Saturday’s election may turn out to be a blessing in disguise in the long run following the discoveries made regarding several alleged plots to rig the elections.
The situation was so obvious that President Buhari had thrown down the gauntlet by stating that anyone who intends to rig the elections and steal ballot boxes are doing so at the risk of their lives insisting that he had instruct security agencies to deal ruthlessly with those found wanting.
“The security agencies have identified hot spots and flashpoints and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford. Anybody who decided to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, maybe that will be the last unlawful action you will take.
“We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections,” an obviously angry Buhari had said.
To this end, it came as no shock to many Nigerians when it was announced recently that a car full of tomb printed ballot papers found in a vehicle alleged to belong the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State.
The discovery generates widespread controversy, however, upon further investigation by the Police, it was discovered that the ballot papers were not original and that they were merely specimen used by the party for voters education.
Speaking at a joint Press Conference with the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Sokoto State Police Command Spokesman, Mohammed Sadiq insists that contrary to the initial suspicion of foul play by members of the public when the discovery was initially made, it has now been discovered that the materials were not real and it was mostly used for voters education by the PDP.
“On Sunday the 17th of February, a team of patrolmen led by OC Crack Squad ASP Ibrahim Abaras arrested and brought to the state CID one Shehu Maidamma with sample thumb-printed balloted paper belonging to the PDP, on interrogation it was found out that the ballot papers were only specimen and not real ballot papers.
“In doing so, the police found out that these are for the purpose of enlightenment, they are simply specimen and all parties can have a specimen of ballot papers in order to enlighten the public and these are considered acts of last-minute campaigns,” Sadiq said.
Recently, a PDP support group in Kwara State alleged that INEC officials and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had tampered with the materials meant for last Saturday’s election which has since been postponed.
The group, the Kwara Advancement Initiative stated that INEC was colluding with the ruling APC to rig the elections in Kwara State.
“There are strong indications that sensitive election materials – ballot papers, result sheets, and card readers – transported to Kwara State for the elections and returned to the CBN office in Ilorin have been tampered with by some INEC officials in connivance with APC leaders in the State.
“We wish to draw the attention of the media, observers, civil society groups and the general public to this illegal and undemocratic act.
“We also call on security agencies in the State, particularly the police to urgently conduct an investigation into this matter and ensure that justice is done.
“Kwarans should also be at alert and resist attempts by any political party and the electoral body to manipulate elections in the State. We want free, fair and credible elections in Kwara,” the group said in a statement.
However, INEC has since come out to deny the allegation, speaking to reporters, the electoral body’s Director, Voter Education and Media, Jacob Ayanda, said all sensitive materials have been moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in the state for safekeeping, stressing that all the material have not been tampered with and all parties involved can attest to it.
“All the political party agents, media will be there when the election materials will be taken back from the CBN again for the election purposes. It will be counted and the number and materials included would be countered checked by all stakeholders involved. There’s no secret about it.
“No ballot paper has been tampered with. It’s at the polling units that the materials will be opened for all to see. Party agents will be present at every stage of the election process”, Ayanda said.
