Kwara LG poll: Police arrest 54 suspects

KWARA state police command has arrested 54 suspects allegedly involved in different forms of electoral malpractices during and after local government elections held at the weekend in the state.

Speaking during the parade of the suspects, who include the assistant publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a collation officer, the commissioner of police, Lawan Ado, said that their offence includes destruction and burning of ballot papers.

The police boss also said that some of the suspects were arrested by security operatives attached to Kwara state independent electoral commission (KWASIEC) office for disorderly conduct within the vicinity of the KWASIEC during collation of final election result.

“They were arrested singing war songs, trying to intrude into the KWASIEC office and going from street to street to cause a breach of peace”, he said.

He said that others were arrested around Taiwo Road, Adeta area and Laolu Unit in the Ilorin metropolis, adding that some other suspects were arrested at Alapa and Morakinde compound in Oyun local government for electoral offences including snatching and destruction of election materials.

The police commissioner, who said that all the suspects would soon be charged to court, assured that the command would continue to provide security, peace, and stability for the general public.

Speaking on the pre-election crisis in Lafiagi, Edu local government area of the state where lives were reportedly lost and the house of Senator Shaaba Lafiagi was razed by irate youth, the police boss said that no arrest had been made on the incident.

He said that the command had compiled a list of suspected people, adding that investigation was going on.

He charged people in the state to live within the ambit of the law, urging anyone with a grievance to seek redress in the court of law.