Police Nab 47-Year-Old Man With INEC Voters’ Registration Machine In Abia, Allegedly Working For Politicians

Umuahia, Abia State– The Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has arrested a 47-year-old man, identified as Chukwuemeka Nwaobilor, for allegedly conducting illegal voters’ registration with a machine belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Nwaobilor was apprehended at a football field in Mbawsi community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, while in possession of an INEC voters’ registration device.

The machine, police sources confirmed, was officially designated for use in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, raising serious concerns over its unauthorized deployment.

According to The Nation, the suspect is an INEC staff member attached to Isiala Ngwa South and was allegedly acting on behalf of yet-to-be-identified politicians from the Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency.

Meanwhile, Nwaobilor was arrested following actionable intelligence. Police operatives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Isiala Ngwa North Division, carried out the arrest in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officer and the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area, after receiving a tip-off from concerned residents who noticed suspicious registration activities at the venue.

The suspect was quietly conducting what appeared to be INEC voter enrolment at the Mbawsi mini stadium when security operatives swooped on him.

He was immediately taken into custody and later whisked away to the Abia State Police Command Headquarters in Umuahia for further interrogation.

Reacting to the development, an official of INEC in Abia State, Mr. Victor Abraham, confirmed that the arrest took place but noted that the commission’s management was still meeting to verify the identity and employment status of the suspect.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, provided further details on the arrest, confirming that the suspect was caught in the act.

“He was caught by police officers from the Isiala Ngwa Divisional Headquarters who were acting on actionable intelligence, while he was conducting unauthorized INEC voters’ registration at Mbawsi mini stadium in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state,” Chinaka said.

She further revealed that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being paid ₦50,000 to carry out the illegal registration exercise.

“He confessed to being paid the sum of ₦50,000 by one Damian to carry out the act. The INEC device was recovered from him and is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Umuahia,” the police spokesperson added.

DSP Chinaka stressed that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full details of the operation, including the identity of those who allegedly sponsored the illegal exercise and the extent of the damage done to the integrity of the voters’ register.