Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have reportedly snatched ballot papers meant to be used for local government elections in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo state.
The ballot papers were hijacked by the hoodlums in the early hours of Friday.
The ballot papers are to be used in the local government election slated for Saturday.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, is conducting the election in all the 33 local government areas in the state.
A source noted that the snatched ballot papers have been recovered from the suspects.
He added that about 14 suspects have been arrested.
The source who bagged not to be named, also revealed that the affected ballot papers have been taken back to Ibadan.
OYSIEC Chairman, Isiaka Olagunju, when contacted, confirmed the attack on electoral officials.
He, however, said that no ballot paper was snatched.
Olagunju, in a telephone conversation with newsmen on Friday, maintained that the Divisional Police Officer in the town has been mandated to arrest the suspects.
“That is not true. The fact is that there was an attack on our officials last night.
“Our officials were attacked at our office at Okeho. No ballot paper was snatched.
“In fact, the DPO of Okeho and other security agencies followed our EO to come back to Ibadan. They just went back to Okeho now. And we have directed the DPO of Okeho to arrest the suspects. That is what happened.”
No comments