Borno Senatorial Candidate Accuses INEC and Police of Tampering with Election Evidence

Strategic Insights -

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon Ibrahim Kumalia, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police of colluding to tamper with election evidence in the Borno Central senatorial district. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Kumalia alleged that INEC officials, along with ad-hoc staff and the electoral officer for Mafa local government, had conspired to alter election results. He further accused the Divisional Police Officer of Bulumkutu Police Station of helping suspected ballot box stuffers to cover their tracks.

Kumalia's allegations were based on a court-ordered inspection of election materials, which revealed that INEC staff had been counting and stuffing ballot papers into different ballot boxes in Mafa, Kala Balge, and Dikwa local governments. The PDP candidate has petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to investigate the allegations and apprehend the culprits.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hon Ibrahim Kumalia, PDP senatorial candidate, has accused INEC officials, ad-hoc staff, and the electoral officer for Mafa local government of conspiring to tamper with election evidence in Borno Central senatorial district.
  • Kumalia alleged that INEC staff were caught sorting and rearranging ballot papers, and stuffing them into different ballot boxes in Mafa, Kala Balge, and Dikwa local governments.
  • The PDP candidate has petitioned the IGP and the DSS to investigate the allegations and apprehend the culprits, including two INEC ad-hoc staff identified as Madu and Rifkatu.
  • Kumalia also accused the Divisional Police Officer of Bulumkutu Police Station of conniving to suppress investigation of crime.
  • The PDP candidate believes that similar tampering has occurred in Dikwa, Kala Balge, and Maiduguri Metropolitan Local governments within the Borno Central senatorial district.

Statistics:

  • The alleged tampering of election evidence occurred on March 22, 2023.
  • The INEC office in Maiduguri was involved in the alleged tampering of evidence.
  • The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was informed of the alleged tampering.
  • The PDP candidate, Kumalia, has requested the IGP to arrest two INEC ad-hoc staff and investigate the culpability of INEC officials.

Sources:

  • Daily Trust: "PDP senatorial candidate accuses INEC of colluding with police to tamper with election evidence"