The lecturer, Gabriel Agabi allegedly impersonated the INEC collation officer for Yache ward in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State
On Sunday, the police arrested Gabriel Agabi, a middle-aged man, for alleged impersonation and possession of 17 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices that were not programmed for the ward where he was apprehended. The security operatives apprehended Mr Agabi, who wore an INEC reflective jacket, at the collation centre in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River. He was later taken to Ogoja INEC’s office, where he confessed to impersonating Dominic Abakedi, the INEC collation officer for Yache ward in Yala Local Government Area.
Mr Agabi, who claimed to be a lecturer in the Philosophy Department of the University of Calabar and hails from Ugoro in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state, was taken to the Ogoja Area Command for further investigation by the CID unit after his confession. One of the BVAS devices found in his possession had 216 accredited voters and 250 votes cast.
According to reports, Mr Agabi was allegedly collaborating with others to play the script of a political party. He reportedly locked up all the agents of other parties in that ward and disappeared after the close of voting around 6 p.m. on Saturday. He only resurfaced at the senatorial district collation centre in Ogoja after 5 p.m. on Sunday.
A senior police officer at the scene confirmed the incident while the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in the district, Zannah Shettima, declined comment, stating that he was yet to be briefed on the matter.
