DPO Snatches Ballot Boxes, Papers During Poll

Reports from Niger State indicate that the Divisional Police Officer attached to Magama local government area of the state was accused of snatching four ballot boxes and papers at Mungoro Central Polling unit of Majin ward.

Voting in progress

The National Mirror reports that aside that, the police officer, (name withheld) was also alleged to have tear gas officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as voters that were on queue waiting to execute their civic responsibility.

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An eyewitness, Ibrahim Rege, said the DPO stormed the polling unit during the voting process and released shots of tear gas, snatched the ballot boxes and papers away after a peaceful accreditation exercise.

He said before the act, people of the area had lodged a complained against the DPO to the Area Commander accusing him of personally destroying posters and bill boards belonging to candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Synchronising Rege’s story, the deputy governor of the state, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who hailed from the area explained that he was told of the development, while expressing worry at the unprofessional behaviour of the DPO.

Ibeto revealed that before the poll, the DPO had shown his bias against the opposition party, especially the APC in the area.

When the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Amore was contacted, he denied the allegation against his officer, saying the DPO only help to rescue INEC officials and materials from hoodlums.

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“They will only be making allegations when they were not allowed to carry out their nefarious activity. Go and ask INEC if any of their material is missing. My DPO only helped to protect INEC officials and materials,” he said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded the use of card readers across the country for the extended presidential and National Assembly elections on Sunday, March 29, except in cases where the card readers fail to work.