The Sokoto State Police Command said yesterday that it arrested a suspect with two bags loaded with specimen ballot papers in the state.
Making the disclosure at a press conference in the Command, the police public relations officer (PPRO) ASP Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq said the suspects were arrested late in the night while police were on stop and search exercise. Abubakar said, contrary to the rumour in some quarters that the police arrested a vehicle loaded with ballot papers, what they actually saw from the two bags were specimens papers conveyed by somebody believed to be a member or supporter of the ruling PDP in the state.
Giving the suspect’s name as Shehu Maidama, the PPRO said, the police believed that the specimen ballot papers were produced by the state PDP for the enlightenment of their members.
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“There was an allegation that a vehicle filled with ballot papers was arrested yesterday, we therefore wish to clarify that, our men on stop and search patrol actually caught a vehicle in which they saw two bags of specimen ballot papers belonging to the PDP.
“The truth however is that what we saw were specimen ballot papers which every political party has the right to print and use same in enlightening their supporters on how to vote,” he added. Stressing that the need to address the press on the matter became sacrosanct in order to douse the apprehension generated by the story, the PPRO said, specimen papers are not an offence hence political parties use it to educate their followers ahead of time.
Collaborating the position of the PPRO, the state INEC Head of Voters Education and Public Relations Officer of the commission, Muhammed Musa said the contents of the two bags were nothing but specimen ballot papers.
He appealed to all to verify things before giving out untrue information.
