By: Adelowo Oladipo Minna
The Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial assembly elections in the state, calling on the party to explain what sensitive electoral materials like BVAS, ballot papers and Ad-hoc staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were doing at a designated apartment.
The state chairman of the PDP, Barr Tanko Beji stated this while addressing Journalists on Monday at the state’s Secretariat of the Party in Minna, just as he called on the INEC to quickly cancel the 25th February 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections results saying, “we have it on record that plans are being made by the APC to use the INEC and security agencies to rig the forthcoming Governorship and State Assembly elections.
However, the APC had claimed that the situation room of its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago was said to have been invaded by the Police Operatives attached to the state command of the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday in Minna, the state capital.
According to the PDP chairman, “We have our facts and evidence, some people called that place a situation Room, what are they doing with various electoral materials Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
“These items were found there, what were INEC Ad-hoc Staff who are National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and Stalwarts of the APC doing at the said apartment?”
The PDP chairman while calling on the Commissioner of Police Niger State Command, CP Ayodeji Joshua Ogundrle for a thorough investigation, highlighted that “the discovery made showed that the APC who kept that apartment should explain to us and Nigerlites what they are doing with electoral materials.
“We call on the INEC to hasten the cancellation of the February 25th elections and the Police needs to seal off the apartment, find out what Corps members who are Ad-hoc Staff were doing there.”
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said two persons were arrested for false information and attempt to cause breach of the peace in the state.
According to Wasiu, “on 5/03/2023 at about 15:00hrs, information was received that some persons were found in a building at Bosso Estate thumbprinting ballot papers towards the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
“Unfortunately, on entering the building and based on preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the information is false.
“The informant who was identified as Engr Ndagi (other names withheld) and one other, were promptly/immediately arrested for giving false information to the Police and attempt to cause breach of the peace at the scene and for further investigation is still continuing on the matter,” said the PPRO.
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