The National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, on Monday, alleged that two lorry-load of sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, meant for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State were intercepted in a hotel in the state.
Oye said this at a press conference at his residence in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The APGA chairman alleged that security agencies in the state intercepted the materials at an undisclosed hotel and two persons were arrested in connection with the discovery.
But when our correspondent contacted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Garba Umar, on the telephone for his reaction on the mater, he described the allegation as false.
He said, “There was nothing like that. It’s a false alarm.”
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, described the allegation as laughable.
Orji stated that INEC’s sensitive materials could hardly come that early to the election, adding that when such materials arrived in the state, they would be in a bank.
Oye told journalists that the sensitive materials, containing everything for the poll in wards, local government and state, 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.
The APGA chairman added, “This afternoon, in a hotel in the Okpuno area of Awka, security agents intercepted two-lorry load 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.”
Source: Punch