The ad-hoc staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who were allegedly abducted during the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial rerun have been rescued.
The election materials said to have been snatched in Akpautong in Essien Local Government Area of the state were also recovered.
It was gathered that the officials were rescued by security operatives involved in the monitoring of the elections.
A chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Commissioner for Trade and Investment Prince Ukpong Akpabio, commissioner for Trade and investment, who confirmed the rescue of those abducted the electric 4th oral materials were recovered at the residence of Albert, stalwart of the APC.
Akpabio, who did not disclose the name of the politician, said the politician and all the hoodlums who carted the election materials have been arrested and handed over to the police.
“INEC ad-hoc officers including an Electoral Officer who was abducted with materials were released while the suspects were whisked away.
“It took the intervention of the Nigeria Police to recover the materials in the politician’s house.
“The Ad-hoc staff members were abducted and forced to thumb print the ballot papers.
“Those arrested were too many such that the police called prison officials to ferry them to the state police command.”
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer for Akwa Ibom State command, Nnudam Frederick said the police have yet to receive any official report on the incident.
