ANEGBETE- Three fake officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including one in possession of N500, 000. (in 10 bundles of N500) denominations intended for bribing INEC officials were arrested by the police in Anegbette and Ifeku, Uneme- South during Saturday’s re-run election for the Etsako Central Constituency seat in Edo State House of Assembly.

Also, another young man bearing a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent card was arrested at Oghomere Primary School, Oghomere, Uneme- South while attempting to distribute 12 voters’ cards in his possession.

The young man told newsmen that he was an agent of the party carrying out the instruction of his father whose name he gave as Isaac.

Two of the impostors, Anslem Longe who was in possession of the N500, 000 and Akande Francis who claimed to be civil servants were arrested at Imasabemoh Primary School, Anegbette voting centre.

While Anslem Longe putting on INEC inscribed uniform refused to declare the ministry he works with, Akande Francis claimed to be a staff of the state ministry of Agriculture and National Resources, a fact confirmed by the state Commissioner for the Ministry, Dr. Tunde Lakoju.

The Commissioner disclosed that Mr. Francis Akande is in charge of the Fadama Project in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

Akande Franics told newsmen that he came to the voting centre to seek for ad hoc job while Anslem Longe claimed to have come to the centre to wait and collect voting materials having been recruited and trained as ad hoc staff of INEC.

The third impostor who claimed to be Solomon Evbogbai from Afuze putting on INEC uniform was caught by voters who came to Ifeku village, Ward 10, Unit 003 to exercise their franchise and handed over to the police who subsequently arrested him.

During a search, he was found to be in possession of INEC uniform and identity card bearing Otioma Chuks of the Geography and Regional Planning Students Association, University of Benin Chapter.

INEC official at the respective polling centre denied knowing them as INEC staff, even as they (impostors) could not provide any evidence of their contract with INEC.
They were said to be working for a party in opposition to the ruling Action Congress (AC) in the state.

Speaking with newsmen, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Felix Ogbaudu who led about 4,000 police men to supervise the Saturday’s election, said he was very impressed with the conduct of the election.

He described the exercise and the people as very orderly, adding that the police would provide a level playing ground for all the parties to the election.

While appealing to the electorate not to allow them to be used to cause chaos, he remarked that politics is about development and not crisis.