The Bauchi state police command has intercepted a trailer loaded with over 1,550 empty ballot boxes at a check-point in Darazo local government area of the state.
As the trailer was intercepted at 7:30 am, the news of the interception spread cross the town like wild fire that the trailer was loaded with ballot papers allegedly thumb-printed in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
While the items were off-loaded at the police station, Government Reserved Area (GRA), it was discovered that the vehicle was carrying empty transparent ballot boxes.
THISDAY checks revealed that the vehicle took off from Lagos state and was heading to Gombe state but was intercepted at the Darazo check point following a tip-off received by the police.
A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) and a member of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Aliyu Saidu, told newsmen that: “After off-loading the items we are convinced that the boxes are empty but initially gathered that the boxes were loaded with thumb printed ballot boxes.” He called on the INEC to always inform the political parties and the press about all their activities in order to avoid this kind of situation.
Meanwhile, the police spokesman DSP Mohammed Haruna said: “The attention of Bauchi state police command has been drawn to an un-substantiated rumour in the social media that a lorry conveying electoral materials was intercepted this morning by security personnel and that it contains presidential ballot papers all voted in favour of PDP. Such rumour was not only misleading but a figment of the imagination of mischief makers who want to cause disharmony among the peace- loving citizens of Bauchi State in particular and the nation at large.” Thisday
