Police operatives from the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a 47-year-old man, identified as Chukwuemeka Nwaobilor, for allegedly conducting an illegal voters’ registration exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was learnt that Nwaobilor was nabbed at a football field located inside Mbawsi Mini Stadium, in Mbawsi community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, was engaging in the alleged illegal registration using Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) machine on behalf on behalf of politicians in the state.
It was further learnt that the INEC registration device retrieved from the suspect was officially assigned for voters’ registration activities in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
It has been alleged that Nwaobilor is an INEC staff member attached to Isiala Ngwa South LGA and was working in collaboration with unidentified politicians from the Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency ostensibly to compromise the voter registration process ahead of future elections.
But mother luck failed him as he was discovered and arrested by police operatives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Isiala Ngwa North Division in conjunction with the Divisional Police Officer and the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
After his arrest, Nwaobilor was reportedly whisked away to the Abia State Police Command Headquarters in Umuahia for further interrogation and investigation.
However, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, has confirmed the arrest, saying the suspect was caught while conducting unauthorized voters’ registration.
“He was caught by police officers from Isiala Ngwa Divisional Headquarters who were acting through 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 revealed that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being paid ₦50,000 by somebody 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 he’s currently being detained at the State Criminal Department (SCID) in Umuahia, the state capital,” the police spokesperson added.
Chinaka noted that investigations into the matter are ongoing, assuring that the police will identify all individuals involved in the alleged scheme.
