The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Saturday, July 30, debunked reports of arrest of its officials over alleged creation of illegal voter enrollment centre.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, made this clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) .
Some media outfits had reported that three officials of INEC in the state, were arrested by Police officers from the police station in Ijeshatedo for allegedly conspiring with St. Brigigs Catholic Church, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, to create an illegal Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centre in the church.
Reacting, Agbaje described the news report as fake news.
All my staff and machines are complete. No member of INEC staff was arrested anywhere in Lagos on Friday.
Recall that the Commission on Friday, debunked reported invasion of the same CVR centre by thugs and carting away of its enrollment machines.
There had been a huge surge in most voter enrollment centres in the state ahead of July 31 CVR deadline.
No Theft Of BVAS Devices
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has said that the public should discard news as regards thugs carting away with voter’s enrollment machines in Surulere as reported in some sections of the media.
Reports had it that some online media on Friday reported that thugs invaded INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centre, situated at St. Bridget Catholic Church Ijesha, in Surulere, and catered away INEC enrollment machines.
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Reacting to the development, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Lagos state, Mrs Adenike Oriowo told NAN that though the exercise was disrupted because of the surge, no machine was stolen.
The spokesperson stated:
There were issues in the said CVR centre but orderliness was restored and the exercise continued smoothly.
We have moved the registration in that centre to another polling unit in the area, and our officials have continued with the registration.
People should be patient. We shall register as many people as possible. If people continue to disrupt the process, the opportunity to register more people before the deadline will be interrupted.
Our commitment is to register as many people as possible and we will try to do so within the limited time.
