TheCable

An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two mobile policemen were assaulted in Warri, Delta state on Friday, for allegedly attempting to divert electoral materials for Saturday’s exercise.

The incident happened around the commission’s complex situated at Esisi road in the city.

Suspecting that a vehicle with Registration Number presidency FG 714V01 was conveying the materials to a hidden location, members of a popular political party intercepted the van and found the materials, including result sheets.

Immediately the youths pounced on them until security personnel came to their rescue.

Commenting on the incident, Fidelia Omoile, the electoral officer (EO) for Warri south, said contrary to the impression that the materials were being transferred to a hidden location, they were being returned to Isoko south local government after it was discovered that they had been erroneously sent to Warri south.

”When I got to Warri, I discovered that the materials are in my vehicle and I have to take them back to Isoko,” she said.

Meanwhile, men of the 222 battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli north local government area of Delta, also recovered eight ballot boxes and 310 permanent voters card from suspected political thugs.

Mathew Oyekola, commanding officer of the battalion, said the suspects intended using the materials for electoral malpractice.

He disclosed that the materials had been returned to INEC officials and the suspects had been handed over to the police.