There was drama yesterday as a Divisional Police Officer in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State (name withheld) snatched four ballot boxes and papers at Mungoro Central Polling unit of Majin ward. An eyewitness, Ibrahim Rege, said the accreditation exercise was peacefully conducted and voting was in progress when the DPO invaded the polling unit, released shots of tear gas and fled with the ballot boxes and papers. The DPO also allegedly fired teargas at INEC officials and voters.
Rege said, “The entire voting process had been on course peacefully. Accreditation was peacefully carried out and voters were orderly on queue to cast their votes when the DPO stormed the polling unit, fired teargas at INEC officials and the people before carting away the ballot boxes with the thumbprinted and unused ballot papers.” The people of the area reported the DPO to the Area Commander. They had recently accused him of personally destroying posters and billboards belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
Also, Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who hails from the area, said he was informed about the incident and expressed concern over the police officer’s unprofessional conduct. Ibeto, who recently defected to APC, said it was a demonstration of bias on the part of the DPO. When contacted on phone, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, denied the allegation. He said the DPO only helped to rescue INEC officials and materials from hoodlums
