Senatorial Candidate Alleges Interference with Tribunal Evidence in Petition to Inspector-General of Police

Hon. Mohammed Kumalia, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Candidate for Borno Central in the last election, has filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding an alleged plot to tamper with evidence meant for the Election Petitions Tribunal. At a press conference in Abuja, Kumalia stated that he had obtained a court order to inspect materials used in the election, such as ballot boxes, used and unused ballot papers, and Certified True Copies of the result and collation sheets. He reported that while his team of lawyers were inspecting the materials on 22nd March 2023, they discovered some INEC Ad Hoc Staff sorting out and rearranging ballot papers, as well as stuffing them into different ballot boxes in Mafa, Kala Balge, and Dikwa Local Governments. His team arrested some INEC staff and took them to the Bulumkutu Police Station along with the bundles of ballot papers and indelible ink they were using. However, Kumalia expressed concern that the DPO in charge of the station released the suspects and INEC materials in collaboration with some INEC staff, whom he accused of trying to cover up the plot and deny him justice at the Tribunal. He has video evidence of the suspects when they were caught thumbprinting the ballot papers and has called on the IGP to direct the Borno State Commissioner of Police to arrest the two Ad-Hoc Staff of INEC that were caught thumbprinting and stuffing ballot boxes in respect of Mafa Local Government inside the premises of INEC office in Maiduguri. He has also asked for an investigation into the culpability of the INEC officials that caused the release of the suspects and took back the ballot papers and indelible ink that were handed over to the police as evidence. When contacted for comment, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Abba Liberty, said that the issue was beyond him.