Kwara Bye-Election: PDP Accuses Police Of Making INEC Materials Available To APC Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigeria Police engaged in war of words on Wednesday over allegations that the police had shown bias ahead of Saturday’s House of Representatives bye-election in Irepodun-Isin-Oke-Ero-Ekiti Federal Constituency of Kwara State.
The PDP and the police in separate statements on Wednesday disagreed on allegations of bias.
While the PDP said it had busted agents of the Buhari Presidency smuggling sacks of Independent National Electoral Commission’s sensitive materials to the All Progressives Congress in an alleged ongoing plot to rig the election using helicopters belong to the police, the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police denied the supplied money to the APC candidate, Abdulraheen Tunji Ajuloopin, using its chopper.
The PDP in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: “Agents of the Presidency and those of INEC were caught in a Police helicopter, which landed at St. Paul’s Primary School, Omu Aran, as they deliver bags of INEC’s sensitive materials into a vehicle belonging to APC’s candidate, Abdulraheen Tunji Ajuloopin.
“The PDP has full details of the INEC agents and our members are monitoring the movement of the materials in this provocative act.
“The PDP charges INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately give account of all the sensitive materials for the election as the people of Kwara state insist on the release of all materials only in the full glare of stakeholders.
“Already, this act has triggered tension in the area and we invite all Nigerians to hold INEC, the police, the Buhari Presidency and APC responsible, should there be any breakdown of law and order in the area before, during and after the election.”
Reacting to the allegation of aiding Ajuloopin to move cash, Moshood said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to implore the General Public and the media to disregard and discountenance a publication in some social media platforms that an Helicopter belonging to the Nigeria Police Force that landed at ST. PAUL PRIMARY SCHOOL, OMUARAN, Kwara State off- loaded cash into a vehicle belonging to Mr. Tunji Ajuloopin, the APC Candidate for the bye-election in EKITI/IREPODUN/ISIN/OKE-ERO Federal Constituency as untrue and mischievous aimed to mislead and misinformed the Public.
“The Force categorically wishes to let the public be aware that the Police Helicopter and vehicle in the picture being circulated were not used to convey any Cash and the vehicle does not belong to Mr. Tunji Ajuloopin as claimed in the report or to any other politician.
“For avoidance of doubt, Police Helicopters deployed for the Saturday, 17th November, 2018 Bye-Election Surveillance patrols and support services to ensure secure environment for the bye-election to fill the vacant Seat in EKITI/IREPODUN/OKE-ERO/ISIN Federal Constituency in Kwara State have commenced flights in and out of Kwara South, Kwara State on Surveillance patrol and the Airlift of Police Officers for the Election.
“This is what was captured on camera and mischievously released to the public. To set the record straight once again, there was no cash off-loaded to any vehicle at OMUARAN. The Force sees the report as desperate and deliberate blackmail to misinform the public which should be discouraged by all. Members of the public, most especially Electorates are hereby enjoined to disregard the Publication.
“The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure adequate security for a free, fair and credible election in Country remains unwavering.”