By Elijah Ugani, Reporting from Ogoja.
Members of an un-named task force, in Egbung, Ogoja LGA along Ogoja – Abakaliki highway just apprehended a commercial truck with registration number Enugu UNN 148 XA, conveying ballot papers out of Cross River state to a yet to be ascertained destination.
The truck which is still under arrest right now, was stopped by youths in Egbung, during routine check of vehicles by members of a taskforce working along the highway in the community.
Elijah Ugani, the CrossRiverWatch reporter, who on ground following developments at the scene, says that:
“When the truck was opened, it was loaded with unused ballot papers belonging to Boki local government for 2015 State Constituency election, as well as computer hard drives and other secretariat documents.
“The driver said he had authority of INEC to move them from Calabar where he claimed he was coming from. But he wasn’t sure where he was going. He first said he was going to INEC headquarters in Abuja. He later said he was going from LGA to LGA to mop them up. Not long after, he said he was going to Abakaliki then lastly claimed that he was only moving them to Onitsha for one Emmanuel Kalu, who is the buyer. So it was obvious that something is fishy and the truck has been arrested by the youths.
CrossRiverWatch has contacted the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC in Cross River, Frankland Briyai, who said that state electoral commission has recieved directive to destroy all unused ballots papers.
He added that he has further directed that such remaining papers should be transferred from other parts of the state to the capital, Calabar for destruction.
The REC then wondered why a truck was now moving same out of the state and said he was not aware of the truck and the movement.
Police from Ogoja Area Command have been invited to the scene and the youths are still holding the truck while waiting for the police to arrive.
The REC has vowed that he will investigate and find out what is amiss.
Some pictures below.
Our reporter, Elijah Ugani is right there at the scene following events and will bring us further updates….