Security personnel in Kaduna city have detained a suspected vote-buyer with N25,963,000 in cash just hours before the state’s bye-elections are scheduled to take place. Around 3:30 am on Saturday, Nigeria Police Force officers working with the Department of State Services (DSS) captured Shehu Aliyu Patangi, the suspect, at a well-known hotel on Turunku Road.
A preliminary investigation found that the large sum of money was intended to influence voters to tamper with the election process, according to the Kaduna State Police Command.
During questioning, the suspect confessed to the crime and begged for forgiveness, according to DSP Mansir Hassan, the Command’s spokesperson.
“The command would not spare anyone caught attempting to subvert the electoral process through vote buying, thuggery, violence, or any other illegal conduct,” he said, quoting Commissioner of Police CP Rabiu Muhammad.
“The suspect was arrested with the said amount, believed to have been earmarked for bribing voters. He confessed to the crime and begged for mercy.
The CP said, “We wish to reiterate that anyone found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law”
Political players and those who support them have also been cautioned by the Kaduna State Police Command to refrain from acts of violence that could interfere with the bye-elections.
The Command stated that security agencies had placed personnel throughout polling places, collation centers, and key flashpoints after receiving reliable information indicating that certain politicians had plans to cause unrest.
“The Command will deal decisively with troublemakers. Anyone, no matter how highly placed, who engages in violence, intimidation, vote buying, or thuggery will be arrested and prosecuted,” the statement continued.
In addition to encouraging people to cast their ballots peacefully and without fear of intimidation, the police promised residents that there would be sufficient security before, during, and after the elections.
