Over 30 FEDECO Ballot Boxes Intercepted In Delta State

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OVER 30 FEDECO ballot boxes have been intercepted at Onigbo-Ugbo Junction, Delta State, on the Benin-Onitsha Expressway by the officials of the Delta State Police Command.

The bus with registration number, Edo USL 832 XL, was said to have picked the materials from a luxurious bus heading to eastern part of the country on Thursday evening.

The man behind it allegedly zoomed-off immediately after handing over the consignment to the driver of the smaller bus, who has been arrested by the police following an alarm raised by residents in the area.

A source, which pleaded to remain anonymous, said the boxes had symbols of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the materials alleged to be used to raise money for the party’s presidential project.

But the state Secretary of the APC, Chidi Okonji, dissociated the party from the consignment, saying the party would never be involved in any form of electoral infraction and that the party was not aware of any fund raising.
Another APC source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I am not aware of anything like that. If at all it is true, it must be the handwork of the PDP because there is nothing they cannot do. The PDP can stage manage anything.”

Confirming intercepting the consignment, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta Command, Celestina Kalu, claimed the boxes had the inscription of FEDECO on them, adding that they were part of the materials used in the 1979 and 1983 elections.

Kalu said upon interrogation, it was discovered that the conveyors of the items intended to use them for Osusu (local banking system) within communities, adding, however, that investigation was still in progress.

As at the time of filing this report, Public Relations Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Delta State, James Popoola, said his office was not aware of ballot boxes that were intercepted.

Meanwhile, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Deinghan Ray Macaulay, has appealed to the police to carry out a thorough investigation regarding the ballot papers, even as he distanced his party from the illegality.

“The PDP could not involve itself in anything like that when we are sure of victory at the elections particularly in Delta State. We are getting upper hand so we cannot do a thing like that; it is only those who are not sure of victory that can do such a thing and foment trouble. I strongly appeal to the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter,” he said.

Source: Daily Independent