Several persons were on Saturday arrested by the police over electoral related offences in Imo State. Those arrested included Senator Hope Uzodinma representing Imo West and his sister. They were arrested over alleged electoral malpractices at Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the State by a combined team of police and the military.

However, after being released on self-recognition, Senator Uzodinma allegedly mobilised hoodlums to protest on the major road to prevent security men from taking away other suspects from the area.

Security reinforcement however aided the policemen on duty to take the suspects to the Police Headquarters in Owerri, where they are now being detained.

Relatively, 25 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Imo State have been arrested by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Job Doma, for alleged thumb printing of ballot papers during the rerun election.

Report says most of the suspects arrested at Osu Primary School, Omuma, after information got to the police that they were engaged in massive thumb printing for one of the political parties.

Some fake INEC officials who pretended to be Returning Officers at the Collation Centre were also arrested.

Also arrested were unnamed INEC officials at Umumma Primary School Ward 10, Polling Unit 008, 003 and three others. This is according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Mr. Mike Igini.

He said, “Myself, accompanied by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police have arrested poll officials in Oru-East involved in mass thumb printing and are now being taken to Owerri.

“Upon my suspicion, I caught an impostor who claimed to be INEC staff without proof, acting as a presiding officer; l ordered his arrest and it was executed by the Police,” Igini said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Andrew Enwerem, has however said that his office was yet to be briefed on the incident.

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