… As Police detain 2 persons
Drama in Niger State as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State to explain what sensitive electoral materials like BVAS, ballot papers and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff are doing at designated apartment.
While the PDP is demanding for an explanation and calling for a seal off, the APC is threatening to sue the opposition Party for trespassing and invading its situation room with thugs.
Chairman of the PDP, Barrister Tanko Beji while addressing Journalists on Monday at the Party secretariat in Minna called on the INEC to quickly cancel the 25th February, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections adding that “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 House of Assembly elections.
It should be noted that the APC had claimed that, the situation room of its Gubernatorial Candidate, Umar Bago was invaded by the Niger State Police Command in Minna on Sunday.
According to Beji “we have our facts and evidences, some people call that place a situation Room, what are they doing with various electoral materials Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, PVCs.
“These items were found there; what were INEC Adhoc 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 for a thorough investigation, added 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 Adhoc Staff were doing there.”
Earlier, the Director of Digital and Strategic Communications of the APC Governorship Candidate Campaign Organization, Abdulberqy Ebbo who after a post on Facebook disclosed that the Police came into the building and ransacked the situation adding that they (Police) were acting on a tip off from some people.
Accordingly, he said the Divisional Police Officer who led the search said he was reliable informed that staff of the INEC were in the building with sensitive materials thumb printing ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial election in favor of the APC.
“I got a call that the situation was being searched by the police. I rushed there and asked the DPO what was going on and he said they were informed that INEC staff were in the situation room thumb printing ahead of the governorship elections on Saturday”.
“This is our situation room, nothing was found in when they ransacked the place. As far as we are concerned, because they came with known thugs. They trespassed and I can tell you that the lives of those in the situation Room are no longer safe”.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abiodun Wasiu said two persons were arrested for false information and attempt to cause breach of peace in the State.
According to Wasiu “on 5/03/2023 at about 1500hrs, 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 and one other were immediately arrested for giving false information and attempt to cause breach of peace at the scene and for further investigation”.