INEC Staff Caught With Thumb Printed Ballot Papers In Niger

An ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was arrested on Friday night in Sambo ward, Rijau local government area of Niger State, in possession of thumb printed two booklets of ballot papers. The INEC staff, a supervising presiding officer, Ibrahim Tanko was arrested with the ballot papers in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mohammed Gado Nasko. As stated by a source in the town, the electoral officer after collecting all election materials went back to complain that there was a short fall in the ballot papers given to him. Unknown to Tanko, some people had seen him hiding the two booklets in a car purportedly owned by a former minister in the state. The suspect was immediately arrested and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the town. When contacted, the head of Voter Education Unit in the state INEC office, Malam Mohammed Wase, confirmed the incident, saying investigation to ascertain those involved in the incident was ongoing.