ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES :I Saw Ballot Papers In Police Van Says Soldier
An Army officer claimed seeing ballot papers meant for Wednesday’s Edo State governorship election in a police van in Etsako Central Local Government Area.
The soldier, who stopped a bus conveying our correspondent, who covered the poll in the area, claimed the materials were removed from one of the polling units.
He said, “I saw police officers in a van stuffed with ballot papers. We asked the driver to stop but they refused to stop. We are still searching for them.”
Meanwhile, there was commotion in Unit 7, Ward 3 in Igiode village, Etsako East Local Government Area after a senator allegedly gave money to some voters at the polling unit.
When our correspondent visited the polling unit, the voters were engaged in heated arguments over how to share the money.
The disagreement disrupted voting, forcing the policemen deployed in the unit to act.
At Unit 5, Ward 4 in the Etsako Central Local Government Area, the same was observed.
One of the voters told our correspondent that they got N1,000 each from some politicians “to vote”.
He, however, did not mention the names of the politicians who gave them the money.
Although one of the voters, Evelyn Igbafe, said voting was peaceful at the polling unit, our correspondent learnt that ballot papers meant for the unit were carted away but later returned.
