The Police command in Ogun State arrested two persons identified as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and others for alleged electoral offences during the Saturday bye-election.
The Command’s Spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola said that the officials were arrested in Iperu Remo, during the Remo Federal constituency by-election.
She noted that at 12:45 a.m., a police patrol team, attached to Iperu Remo Division, intercepted a Mitsubishi Space wagon, with registration number AKD 887 HT, with three occupants.
She added that the INEC officials were arrested alongside their driver.
Odutola stated that a search on the vehicle led to the recovery of N2.5 million cash from one of the officials.
“During interrogation, he confessed that the money was collected at Kehoy Hotel, Iperu, from a man he referred to as “Political Solution”, acting on the directive of his supervisor,” she said.
The police spokesperson stated that the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, had ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, for immediate discreet investigation.
Also Read: Groups submit multiple party requests to INEC
He assured members of the public that monitoring of the election was ongoing, and the command would keep the public abreast of the outcome of the investigation.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Kano State has rejected the outcome of the Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituencies re-run elections, citing widespread irregularities and violence.
The party claims the electoral process was marred by thuggery, with political thugs intimidating eligible voters, rendering the exercise ridiculous.
The Chairman of the party Alhaji Yusuf Kibiya, who stated this while addressing newsmen on Saturday in Kano, described the process as “totally devoid of all democratic processes”.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide a level playing ground for all parties, emphasising that the current state of affairs undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
Kibiya explained that the entire process was “totally devoid of all democratic processes”.
He called on security agencies to protect voters, uphold peaceful assembly, and deter intimidation and violence.
The chiarman advised the Kano State Government and national leaders to avoid inflammatory rhetorics and actions and urged them promote transparent and peaceful electoral process.
He also called on relevant authorities to investigate electoral law breaches and sanction offenders accordingly to prevent future misconduct.
The Nigeria Police on Saturday announced the arrest of 288 suspected thugs during the re-run election for Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency and Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ibrahim Bakori, disclosed this to newsmen in the Shanono Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)
