David Mark’s Election: INEC Staff Arrested For Falsification

Dotun Oladipo and John Akpodovhan - 16.02.2008

Some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benue State have been arrested by the police for allegedly falsifying documents relating to the election of the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, in the Benue South Senatorial District election on April 21, 2007.

Though the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, Mr. Ibiyinka Kayode, would not disclose the number of people so far arrested by his officers and men, sources within the police circle and the INEC said that one of those allegedly helping the police with investigation into the matter is the former Legal Officer of INEC in Benue State, Mrs. Carol Okpe.

It was learnt on Friday that the matter is being handled by the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) of the Benue State Police Command.

The INEC staff are allegedly being questioned for making one of the forms used by INEC for the election, Form EC8 Series, available to Mark’s opponent in the election, Mr. Usman Abubakar of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The lead being pursued by the police, a security source said, was that Abubakar was allegedly given the Form EC8 to falsify.

Kayode confirmed on Friday that some staff of INEC had been arrested in connection with the alleged falsification.

He, however, said that he would not disclose the number of those arrested as this could hamper investigation.

He said that his officers and men were still digging into the details of the allegation, adding that he would disclose the facts once investigation was concluded.

Mr. Andy Ezeani, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, confirmed the development.

Ezeani, in a text message on Friday in reply to a question on whether some staff of the commission were arrested, said, “Yes, in Benue State.”

The issue became a public one following allegations by the counsel to INEC, Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN, that the legal department of the commission in Benue State had released electoral results to Abubakar.

Nwaiwu alleged that Abubakar took away the materials to his home and returned them after two weeks, allegedly after tampering with the results.