A bus loaded with ballot boxes was arrested by police in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, March 12th.
According to Vanguard more than 30 ballot boxes were dropped off by a luxury bus heading to the East from the North at Onicha-Ugbo Junction.
A reliable source said that the luxury bus had taken off before the people in the area could draw attention of the police to the event, continuing that a smaller bus with number plate Edo USL 832 XL, which came to pick the boxes at the junction, was imprisoned with the driver by the police.
The witness, who did not want to be named, said the boxes had the picture of one of the major political parties’ presidential aspirant and his running mate on them.
Attempt made to contact the Divisional Police Officer for comments on the incident was unsuccessful at the time of writing this report.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer close to the division confirmed the arrest, and added that inquiry was on to determine the source of the boxes.
Stating that the boxes were similar to the ones used in the days of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, he said the driver admitted that they were being used to raise funds for the said presidential candidate at the grassroots.
The police official said the ballot boxes were sent through a waybill from the Kano central office of the party.
The driver and the bus loaded with the ballot boxes were still being imprisoned at the police station.
The state secretary of the party (names suspended) said he was not aware of the case.
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Another source in the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I am not aware of anything like that. If at all it is true, it must be the handwork of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because there is nothing they cannot do. PDP can stage-manage anything.”
Also contacted, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Deinghan Ray-Macaulay, said: “PDP could not involve itself in anything like that when we are sure of victory at the elections, particularly in Delta State.
“We are getting upper hand so we cannot do a thing like that. It is only those who are not sure of victory that can do such a thing and forment trouble.
“I strongly appeal to the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter.”
The ballot boxes loaded inside a truck was stopped during search operation by the soldiers from the 35 Artillery Army Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta on January 20th in Ogun State.
Another lorry full with ballot boxes was found in Ibadan, Osun State.
In recent times Kaduna State police have arrested a woman who considered to be engaged in the business of selling Permanent Voter Cards.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/401752-a-bus-of-ballot-boxes-arrested-by-police-in-delta.html
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