Edo Poll: Police Arrest Fake Journalist, Eight Others for Vote Buying

The police have arrested an alleged vote buyer, who posed as a staff of one of the prominent television stations in Nigeria, and eight other suspects during Saturday’s Edo State governorship election.

The suspects, according to spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, ACP, were arrested by police operatives during synchronised raids on identified black spots at approximately 1900hrs.

In a statement on Saturday evening, ACP Adejobi said the well-coordinated effort led to the arrest of two key suspects, who he identified as members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Emotingham Godspower (25), and Farawei Isaac (27), both from Ufunama community, Ovia Southwest local government area of the state.

He said the suspects, connected to a larger network involving one “Atiku” and a kingpin known as “the boss”, were apprehended at So Cash Guest House in Ekpoma, where a substantial amount of cash and incriminating items were recovered.

The police alleged that a list of voters’ names with corresponding monetary values and a collection of pre-filled ballot papers, along with a set of fake identification cards, were recovered from them.

“Accordingly, six suspects, namely, Suleiman Abdurahim, Fatima Yakubu, Yusuf Aminat (52 yrs) Salihu Lukman (54yrs), Safianu Saratu (32yrs) were all arrested at Aibotse Secondary School, beside Meremu Hotel, Auchi, Etsako West local government area for engaging in vote buying”, Adejobi said.