Ekiti Tribunal: APC Agent Accused Of Snatching Ballot Box

An agent of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Peter Alabi, has been accused of snatching a ballot box during the polls by the police. The alleged ballot box snatching happened at Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole local government area of the state.

At the Justice Mohammed Siraju-led Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Thursday, the police said the incident was the only electoral offence recorded in the state during the election, which ousted the then incumbent governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi.

Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was, at the end of the election, announced winner of the gubernatorial poll, defeating candidate of the APC, Fayemi.

The police explained that Alabi escaped arrest after he allegedly ran away with the box. It was further disclosed that the incident led to the cancellation of election results the polling unit by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“Result of Unit 6 Odogo under Ward 9 in Ikole Local Government Area was cancelled due to the snatching of the ballot box by one Peter Alabi of Odo Ayedun Ekiti, an APC agent who pretended to cast his vote and ran into the bush with the ballot box. When pursued by the security agents, he tore the ballot papers there in and escaped.

“INEC subsequently cancelled the unit result,” parts of the police report, signed by the Commissioner of Police (Election), Ekiti State Command, Ikechukwu A. Aduba, read.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned till December 17

Fayose has already been sworn in as governor of Ekiti State.