There was apprehension in Ibadan yesterday when a truck loaded with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ballot papers was intercepted by the Yemetu Divisional Police Command in Oyo State.

There were speculations that the ballot paper had been thumb printed already. The bus was immediately moved to the Police Headquarters at Eleyele before it was released after confirmation from INEC that the consignments were for the commission.

The commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Kola Sodipo, stated that a bus was actually impounded by police men in the state but was later released after confirmation from INEC

“Truly my boys intercepted some men driving a truck loaded with ballot boxes but they claimed they were taking it to INEC. I contacted the commission, they confirmed knowing about it and the truck was released”. Sodipo said

When the Public Relations Officer for INEC, Alh. Ayodele Folani was contacted; he confirmed the interception of the truck and dispelled the rumor that the ballot papers have been thumb printed

“The public has been unreliably informed, for anyone to say he saw thumb printed ballot, the person must have seen the materials physically and probably take a shot. What they saw was a truck bringing in a sealed container containing ballot boxes to be used for election. We have to prepare and procure materials since we are preparing for elections.”

The commission spokesperson clarified the event that led to the interception of the truck by men of the police force.

“The ballot boxes were imported and were moved from Tin Can Island to Ibadan, The escort attached with the truck bound for Ibadan came down for whatever reason I don’t know, at that point, the police on patrol intercepted the truck with the boxes, the driver tendered all the necessary papers but the police team on patrol took the truck to the Eleyele Police Headquarters.”

“Press men who were around the scene also went with them to the station to be cleared that it is just a new empty ballot box. In the Nigerian sense it is very impossible to have ballot papers printed at this time when we still have more than one month to the election”

Folani stated that the commission has lived up to expectation in previous election it has conducted in the past and that the commission is poised to for the forthcoming 2015 election

 “Election today has changed; it has been made so transparent because ballot papers are counted at the various polling units. There is no way staff of the commission can stuff ballot boxes, it is impossible.  We did an election in 2011 that was applauded by both local guest and international communities who witnessed the election. The governorship election in Ekiti and Osun State were fair and credible, so we can do better.”