No fewer than 51 persons, including four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a fake mobile policeman, were yesterday arrested by soldiers from the 2nd Mechanised Division, Odogbo, even as the polls witnessed a poor turn-out of voters.
Also, the presence of soldiers deployed to strategic areas in Ibadan and surrounding areas could not stop hoodlums, mostly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters allegedly led by Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and the state Deputy Governor-elect, Taofeek Arapaja as they go round Ibadan South Senatorial Constituency to influence votes for Adedibu’s son, Kamoru who is contesting in the area.
Besides, a lorry loaded with ballot papers, with registration number Abuja XG 632ABJ, was intercepted by soldiers at the toll gate end of the city and brought to the Leutmacks Cantonment.
Election into the House of Representatives in Ibadan North, Ona Ara, Egbeda, Atiba, Oyo West and East Constituencies were postponed by INEC following the non-inclusion of logos of some political parties on the ballot.
Forty of the hoodlums were arrested at Kiree and Eleruko villages, Lagelu Local Government, by soldiers after they have forcefully thumb-printed the ballot boxes in surrounding polling stations.
The soldiers, led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Mohammed Saleh, had, while acting on a tip-off, stormed the area where the hoodlums, numbering over 30 and moving around in three commercial buses, were caught for electoral fraud.
The Army Chief and his men, as well as reporters in his convoy were, on arrival at Igbo Elerin, in the council area, informed of the activities of the hoodlums in the area who prevented the electorates, believed to be in the opposition, from voting at polling centres.
By 10am, the ballot box for the presidential slot was already filled to the brim and upon interrogation by Saleh, the Presiding Officer of the centre, Ayo Omosanya; his assistant, Rashidat Olabisi as well as the INEC Supervisor, Adigun Moses were found to have acted together to perpetrate electoral fraud.
The thugs, believed to be members of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), were said to have invaded the polling stations in the buses, armed with dangerous weapons and forcefully thumb-printed the ballot papers.
When asked about their mission by the GOC, the thugs could not give a satisfactory answer and could not produce their voter’s card. The INEC officials, who initially
described the hoodlums as registered voters, confessed that they were intimidated by the men who then forcefully took the ballot papers and thumb printed them.
Although the INEC official said only 470 names were in their register, the number of votes at the time was already over 750, while 33 ballot papers were still left with them.
The lone police officer and three men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the centre were not armed and could not resist the hoodlums.
The police officer said they were helpless and could not do anything since the hoodlums were armed.
The same incidence was witnessed at the neigbouring Olosunde village, as the INEC official on duty, Emiola Oyedamola said the hoodlums invaded the polling station and demanded for ballot papers which they forcefully tore open and thumb printed before proceeding to other areas.
Ten of the hoodlums were arrested by soldiers at Igbo Elerin for forceful taking over of polling stations and thumb printing of ballot papers. Others arrested at the toll gate end of the city were armed with a locally made pistol, charms and sword.
At Molete and Odo Oba areas, which falls under Ibadan South Constituency, suspected thugs seized the five polling stations in the neigbourhood where they forcefully thumb-printed ballot papers.
Snatching of ballot boxes was not as rampant as during last Saturday’s polls, as the hoodlums opted for the invasion of polling stations where ballot papers are forcefully taken and thumb printed in favour of their sponsors.
Both the INEC officials and policemen at the centres alleged that the duo of Adedibu and Arapaja led the thugs to perpetrate the dastardly act.
But one of the electoral officers, who narrated the incidence to the Army chief and reporters, said the PDP leader directed them to hand over the ballot papers in their care and thumb printed
them.
The INEC official however outsmarted the hoodlums when she put a wrong signature so as to differentiate between the lawful votes cast and the invalidated ones.
The thugs, it was learnt, arrived the area in a Toyota Corolla car, with registration number LAGOS BZ 439 LSR and took control of the centres, while policemen merely looked on as they had no weapon to fight them.
The turn out of voters in the state was not impressive, while the election could be said to be peaceful, compared to last Saturday’s polls, except in some areas like Akobo and Yemetu, where a party supporter allegedly tried to coerce candidates into voting for his party.
The atmosphere was peaceful at Ogbomoso and Iseyin, as the electorates went out to cast their votes.
But efforts to arrest the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Senatorial candidate in Oyo South, Seyi Makinde by men of the state police command was thwarted by soldiers, following a save our soul call to them by the candidate who alleged harassment and intimidation by the police officers.
The State Police Commissioner, Jonathan Johnson had accused the ANPP chieftain of going around with fake mobile policemen and accused soldiers of shielding him.
But Makinde faulted the police stance. He said he had earlier alerted the police of plans to abduct him by some politicians, which the command allegedly rebuffed.
Although he said their duty was to ensure a violent free polls, Saleh however said the nation can only witness a free and fair elections if Nigerians stand up in unison to fight electoral malpractice.
According to the Army chief, it will take a long time for INEC and security agencies to achieve the desired results.
He disclosed that the hoodlums arrested for electoral fraud will be handed to the State Security Service for interrogation.