The Nigerian police yesterday intercepted a trailer load of election materials purportedly belonging to the Independent Electoral Commission at Ihiala, Anambra State, along the Onitsha-Owerri Road on its way to an undisclosed destination in the state three weeks before the February 6 gubernatorial elections.
But the driver of another truck suspected also to have been carrying similar materials escaped with his vehicle from the same scene, eyewitnesses have said.
Eyewitnesses said the discovery was made possible as a result of an accident with a commercial vehicle, following which an argument ensued and led to the discovery that the trucks were being driven by two people who claimed to be soldiers.
The men who had already passed a police checkpoint claimed to be moving with the container-laden trucks to Port Harcourt.
It was when the policemen at the checkpoint came to investigate the cause of the accident that one of the drivers fled with one container while the police held the other.
It was when the policemen at the checkpoint came to investigate the cause of the accident that one of the drivers fled with one container while the police held the other.
On close examination, the police discovered that the reddish trailer with Lagos state registration number XS139AKD was filled to the brim with cartons of electoral materials. The materials included ballot papers, ballot boxes and election result sheets.
THISDAY enquiries confirmed that the truck belongs to the Kline Group of Companies with company registration number KKFU728486.
THISDAY enquiries confirmed that the truck belongs to the Kline Group of Companies with company registration number KKFU728486.
A former member of the House of Representatives in the state is said to have been linked to the two trucks.
The arrested driver of the impounded truck was discovered to be a university student. But he was detained by the police who said he was helping them with investigations.
The arrested driver of the impounded truck was discovered to be a university student. But he was detained by the police who said he was helping them with investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha was said to be attending the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations when reporters called at his office.
But a police officer who spoke on the issue said the truck and its contents had been moved to the Divisional Police Station in Ihiala Local Government Area, and would soon be moved to Awka.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Mr. Uwazuruonye Josiah was also said to have gone out on an official assignment and could not be reached for comment.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Mr. Uwazuruonye Josiah was also said to have gone out on an official assignment and could not be reached for comment.
The Public Relations Officer of INEC in Awka when contacted refused to speak and directed reporters to the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Tony Agbache who said he knew nothing of the impounded container.
Also, investigations at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja hit a brick wall as the electoral body disowned the impounded cargo.
When contacted, a deputy director in the Public Affairs Department of INEC said he was not aware of any seizure of electoral materials.
Also, investigations at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja hit a brick wall as the electoral body disowned the impounded cargo.
When contacted, a deputy director in the Public Affairs Department of INEC said he was not aware of any seizure of electoral materials.
He said neither the director of Public affairs nor his logistics counterpart was in the picture of the arrest of the truck and its contents.
He however, promised to get back once he was through with his own investigations. When THISDAY called again, his phone rang several times but was not answered.
He however, promised to get back once he was through with his own investigations. When THISDAY called again, his phone rang several times but was not answered.
INEC has fixed February 6 for the conduct of the Anambra gubernatorial election. In the build up to the polls, there have been several claims of plans to rig by the different camps of contenders.
At a point, the Inspector General of Police had to summon all the 25 contestants to his office and cautioned them to guard against the possible outbreak of chaos in the politically volatile state.
At a point, the Inspector General of Police had to summon all the 25 contestants to his office and cautioned them to guard against the possible outbreak of chaos in the politically volatile state.
Reacting to the incident, the chairman of the Soludo Campaign Organisation, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, said it was now left for INEC to claim or deny the ownership of the container(s) and its contents.
He said, “It also portends a very dangerous development that container loads of election materials will be floating about in Anambra 21 days to the governorship election.
He said, “It also portends a very dangerous development that container loads of election materials will be floating about in Anambra 21 days to the governorship election.
“If security documents can be treated this shabbily, one wonders the credibility of what we are about to do and the outcome of the exercise.
“We urge the commission to make a public statement on the incident and also reassure us that the process would be free and fair.”
“We urge the commission to make a public statement on the incident and also reassure us that the process would be free and fair.”
The director of the Uche Ekwunife Campaign Organisation of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, Mr. C. J. Chinwuba said: “we commend the security operatives for their vigilance and we condemn such acts aimed at rigging this election.
“We in PPA have laboured extensively, visiting the 177 communities and the 326 electoral wards in Anambra State, yet some set of mischievous people are busy trying to rig this election.
“We in PPA have laboured extensively, visiting the 177 communities and the 326 electoral wards in Anambra State, yet some set of mischievous people are busy trying to rig this election.
“We in the PPA and the entire Anambra State have insisted that the votes must count.”
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu said Anambra people have suffered enough from electoral fraud perpetuated by enemies of democracy, and urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to save the state from the evil machinations of miscreants.
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu said Anambra people have suffered enough from electoral fraud perpetuated by enemies of democracy, and urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to save the state from the evil machinations of miscreants.
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