Anambra Poll 2017: Election Materials Discovered In A Hotel

Anambra Poll 2017: Election Materials Discovered In A Hotel

Two lorry loads of sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission meant for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State have been allegedly intercepted in a hotel in the state.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference in his residence at Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

Oye said security agencies in the state intercepted the materials in an undisclosed hotel and that two persons have been arrested as a result.

But when our correspondent contacted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Garba Umar, on the telephone for his reaction on the matter, he described the allegation as “false.”

He said, “There was nothing like that. It’s false alarm.”

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, also described the allegation as laughable.

He said INEC’s “sensitive” materials could hardly arrive that early to the election, adding that when such materials are finally available, they would be kept in a bank.

Oye told journalists at the press conference that the “sensitive” materials, containing everything for the poll at wards, local government and state levels, were intercepted in two trucks by security operatives.

He said he had a strong suspicion that an opposition party in the state was the mastermind of the act.

He said APGA and the people of the state would not tolerate any sharp practices in the election.

Oye said, “This afternoon, in a hotel in Okpuno area of Awka, security agents intercepted two lorry loads of sensitive materials meant for the Anambra governorship election, and it is believed that an opposition party in the state was responsible for the act.

“We called this conference to draw the attention of Nigerians and the world to this sad development because the Anambra governorship election must be free and fair. We will not accept any act of rigging.

“We had believed in the capability of INEC and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the state, but we are already disappointed by this sad development.”