March 19, 2023

The ICPC said it arrested four vote buyers in Sokoto and Katsina States during the governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

The ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, who disclosed his in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the commission’s monitoring team was attacked by hoodlums in Sokoto.

“In its election monitoring operations across the states of the federation, officers of the anti-corruption agency encountered some vote buyers at Kauran Miyo Primary School in Bodingo Town of Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“The Sokoto State Monitoring Team of the Commission arrested the three male vote-buyers – Mahe Bello, Musa Adamu and Mustapha Mohammed – all of Kauran Miyo Bodinga.

“Bello was caught in possession of a cash sum of N38,000, two PVCs, one ATM Card and an Infinix phone while Musa Adamu had CFA 228,000 in his possession which was being offered to voters.

“The third suspect, Mustapha Mohammed, was arrested with some PVCs in his possession,” she said.

According to her, the ICPC Monitoring Team, however, came under attack while carrying out the arrest of the three vote-buyers.

“An officer of the Commission, Rabiu Ibrahim, suffered a head injury after being hit by stones. He has been admitted into a hospital and he is in a stable condition.

“The three voters were kept in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before being conveyed to ICPC’s detention facility in Sokoto.

“In a related development, the ICPC Katsina State Election Monitoring Team arrested one Tanimu Tabale for vote buying at Tashar Yamma Polling Unit in Zango Local Government Area of the State,” she said.

She said that Tabale, a 35-year old man, claimed he was an observer in Makama Polling Unit but was arrested at Tashar Yamma Polling Unit with the sum of N20,000 in different denominations attempting to buy the votes of the electorate.

“One of the ICPC Monitoring Teams in Delta State rescued a female voter, Oge Nwaomose, from mob action by agents of some parties who accused her of vote-buying.

“Nwaomose was seen parading herself at Unit 13 Ward 6, shortly after casting her vote at Unit 8 Ward 13, Ogbu-Utu Primary School, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State

“The officers of the anti-corruption agency at Polling Unit 13 Ward 6 in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, prevented further attacks on the lady, who was thereafter whisked away to the state office for interrogation,” he said.

She said that during a search conducted on her, ₦6,000 in 500 naira note denomination was found on her, adding that her statement was obtained and was granted bail.

She recalled that the Commission had on Feb. 25, arrested nine vote-buyers in Osun, Ondo, Borno, Akwa Ibom and Sokoto States during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.(NAN)