GARBA Baba Umar, Anambra State Police Commissioner CP Garba Baba Umar and Nwachukwu Orji, Independent National Electoral Commissioner,  INEC, resident electoral commissioner Anambra state, have dismissed the allegation that two lorries full of sensitive election materials belonging to INEC were found in a hotel in the state.

Victor Oye, national chairman of APGA, raised the alarm at a press briefing at Amawbia in Awka South local government area, saying security agencies in the state intercepted the materials and that two persons had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Reacting,  Umar said there was nothing like that, describing the allegation as ‘’a false alarm.”

Orji also the allegation was laughable because INEC sensitive materials could hardly come this early to the election, adding that they would be kept in a bank when they arrive the state.

However, the APGA chairman, insisted that there was a strong suspicion that an opposition political party was the mastermind of the act. He said that APGA and the people of the state would not tolerate sharp practices in the election, urging the people to be very vigilant because some of the politicians involved in the November 18, election are very desperate.

He said: “This afternoon, in a hotel in Okpuno area of Awka, security agents intercepted two lorry loads of sensitive materials meant for the Anambra governorship election, and it is believed that opposition parties in the state were responsible for the act.

“We decided 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 the sad development.

“Any result of the forthcoming election that is not authentic will cause chaos and APGA will not condone any act of rigging.”

He called for a probe into the matter and said that the development had already cast a slur on the preparations for the election.

– Nov 7, 2017 @ 08:55 GMT |