The police in Delta State have begun investigation into circumstances leading to the torching of Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) in Ughelli North Local Government, spokesman Andrew Aniamaka has said.
He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri that the perpetrators would be arrested and prosecuted.
Aniamaka said the incident led to the cancellation of the election in the area.
He said: “Thugs set ablaze the DSIEC office in Ughelli North.
“Investigation is on and I assure you that the perpetrators will be nabbed and brought to book.
“Election could not hold in the local government because of the action.”
Mr. Felix Ekure, the chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ughelli North, alleged that on Saturday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was responsible for the burning to cover up its perceived atrocities.
“We were informed that election materials were brought to DSIEC office in Ughelli North on Friday.
“We mobilised our supporters to the venue to ensure that the materials were protected.
“At the point of distribution, we insisted on seeing the result sheets and other sensitive materials, but the DSIEC official claimed that he forgot the original result sheets in Asaba.
“We insisted that he must bring the result sheets before the distribution of materials.
“At that point, PDP thugs started shooting and our boys scampered for safety.
“The thugs then set the DSIEC office ablaze in order to cover up their atrocities,” he alleged.
The PDP Chairman in Ughelli North, Mr. Lawrence Agbatutu, told NAN yesterday that APC leaders allegedly ordered their supporters to set the building ablaze.
“Two days to the election, APC stationed their boys at the DSIEC office. The leaders ordered their loyalists to burn DSIEC building, it was not PDP supporters.”
