INEC official arrested over ‘missing’ ballot papers

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Attahiru Jega recovered yesterday from the shock of the elections cancellation to begin the seemingly complex but necessary task of finding out how it all went haywire.

He told the staff to sit up and ordered the arrest of an Electoral Officer in Osun State over “missing” ballot papers.

Jega, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Heads of Operations and ICT Units in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will meet today in Abuja to audit the ballot papers disbursed last Saturday before the polls shift.

The National Assembly elections were shifted after electoral materials failed to arrive in many states. 

Shortly after the postponement of the elections, the Electoral Officer (EO) could not account for the ballot papers in his care.

It was gathered that the officer, who was deployed in Osun State from Ondo State, claimed that he had burnt the ballot papers, including some that had been thumb-printed.

But, it was learnt, the EO could not identify where the ballot papers were burnt.

A source in the commission said Jega told the staff to either sit up or be fired.

“To demonstrate his readiness to deal with erring official, Jega has ordered immediate arrest of an Electoral Officer in Osun State over disappearance of some ballot papers. The EO said the ballot papers were used last Saturday and he has burnt them,” the source said, adding: 

“But he purportedly ‘burnt’ the ballot papers without authority from the Resident Electoral Commissioner whom he is responsible to.

“There was a strong suspicion that the affected ballot papers, especially the unused ones, might have been diverted at the prompting of some politicians.

“The EO, who has been detained in Osogbo, is being investigated by the police. From preliminary investigation, the ballots might have been diverted.”

The development has forced Jega to call today’s meeting, which will be devoted to: •review of how things went wrong last Saturday; •comprehensive audit of all the ballot papers issued before the postponement of the elections; and •the number of ballots used and unused.

“Jega and all our leaders are meeting on how to get it right this time around. Any failure again on Saturday could make or break the entire polls. We won’t allow any slip again,” the source said, adding: “From the experience of the EO in Osun, the INEC chairman, the RECs, and other officials will take stock of all ballots disbursed and the mop up exercise carried out so far.

“At least, the figures must tally or else some ballots might still be in circulation by now.

“Also, if there is any shortfall as a result of ballots already thumb printed, INEC can make up accordingly before the general elections begin again on Saturday.”

Another issue to be discussed today is the 774 EOs non-adherence to the guidelines of the commission that a queue of voters in any polling unit should not be more than 300.

“And it was regrettable that we had a long queue of 1,000 to 1,500 last Saturday. This is a major challenge we will address today,” said the source, who pleaded no to be named.