SSS Arrests 20 People Thumb-Printing PDP’s Ballot At Fayose’s Campaign Manager’s Resort

At least twenty (20) people have been arrested for thumb-printing ballot papers for the Peoples Democratic Party candidate Ayodele Fayose in the gubernitorial  election on Saturday in Ekiti state. Officers of the State Security Services (SSS)  claims to have arrested the culprits thumb printing ballot papers at Mr. Fayose’s campaign manager’s resort in Afao Ekiti. The SSS operatives working on a tip off said they met some 22 young people thumb printing ballot papers and preparing form EC8 forms in anticipation of rigging the governorship election scheduled for Saturday June 21 in Ekiti State.
Late yesterday, Dipo Anisulowo, the director general of the Ayo Fayose campaign organization, admitted to SaharaReporters that SSS agents had arrested some guests at a resort he owns. He stated, however, that he believed the people arrested were “cult boys” who attacked some students in Iworoko and Are-Ekiti area.
Pressed further by our correspondent, Mr. Anisulowo said his political camp was aware that their opponents wanted to raid his resort. He claimed to have reported the case to the police.
But our sources said the SSS raided the resort when some mobile police officers detailed to guarding the premises went out to drink. “Our agents caught them red-handed thumb printing and filling out the result forms,” one SSS source said.
Mr. Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, was in 2006 forced out of office as a result of his indictment on corruption charges. After emerging as the PDP’s governorship candidate with the full backing of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Fayose is now seeking to unseat incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Earlier today, three private airlifts arrived at the Akure Airport in nearby Ondo State in circumstances that a political source in the state described as unusual. “We believe that the three planes brought in cash [for buying votes and bribing electoral officials in Ekiti State] and ballot papers,” said the source. He added that bullion vans owned by Zenith Bank hauled away the freight brought in by the planes.
The source also claimed that three PDP officials, namely Kingsley Kuku, Musiliu Obanikoro, and the governorship candidate for Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, arrived on the planes. However, SaharaReporters could not independently confirm the presence of the officials at the airport today. However, our correspondent learned that the female airport manager in Akure was issued a query after information was released on the Internet about the arrival of the three mysterious planes.
Two SSS sources confirmed today’s operation. One of them disclosed that SSS operatives were tipped off that some persons at the resort were thumb printing ballot papers and preparing electoral result sheets called EC8 forms. “Our men were able to move in and make arrests,” the source said. Both sources refused to disclose the names of the detained suspects, pleading that the agency has to conclude its investigations. “Please be patient and allow us finish investigating the matter,” one of the sources pleaded.

Sahara Reporters.