Nasarawa: Council Chairman denies being caught with fake ballot papers

The Chairman, Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, Mr Joshua Zheyekpuwudu, has debunked reports that he was caught with fake ballot papers by personnel of the Department of States Security (DSS) on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

The Council Chairman stated this while briefing journalists in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, North Central Nigeria.

According to him, the papers he was seen with were dome copies used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during electioneering campaigns to educate their members on how to vote.

“I was on my way to my village to vote on Saturday morning and came across a security checkpoint in Lafia, after searching my official vehicle the dome copies were found.

“They accused me of having fake ballot papers and all effort to explain to them that it was dome copies was unsuccessful, as they insisted I follow them to their Headquarters in Lafia, which I did.

“They collected the dome ballot papers, our phones,s and some little money I had in my official car and took me, my driver,r and my Assistant to their office.

“But, when they took me to the office of the State Director of DSS and I explained to him and he was shown the papers.

“He directed that we should be released because they were not ballot papers does not belong to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” 

Zheyekpuwudu also used the opportunity and displayed the dome copies to members of the press to see for themselves.

He added that it is unfortunate that the public, including journalists, believed the misinformation and spread it instead of verifying to know the truth.

On the outcome of the governorship election in the state, the Obi LGA Chairman congratulated Governor Abdullahi Sule on his re-election for another term adding that the renewed mandate was a result of the developmental strides of the governor in the last three years.

He, therefore, appealed to residents to accept the outcome of the election as the will of God and support the governor to move the state to greater heights.

Voice of Nigeria recalls that some section of the media reports that the council boss was arrested with the fake ballot papers during the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections on his way to his village.

PIAK