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By our reporter
The Chairman of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Mr Joshua Zheyekpuwudu, says the social media reports linking him to “fake” ballot papers were mischievous and untrue.
He accused political opponents of being behind the “malicious falsehood” which he said was aimed at tainting his reputation.
Mr. Zheyekpuwudu was arrested by men of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for being in possession of already thumb-printed ballot papers in Lafia, the state capital, had gone viral on Saturday, March 18.
He was also said to have been in possession of some money and other items when the arrest took place.
He however said there was a misunderstanding on the part of the DSS personnel who were on duty at a checkpoint in Tudun Kauri area of Lafia that fateful day.
According to him, the personnel mistook the dummy ballot papers used for public enlightenment purposes during the electioneering campaign ahead of the election to be fake ones intended to be use for electoral malpractices.
He explained that his driver forgot the dummy ballot papers in the boot of his official car, adding that it was those same meant to sensitise the citizens on their electoral duties that the DSS discovered when they ransacked the car.
He added that when the DSS director noticed the misunderstanding, he ordered his men to return the items taken from him.
He said political opponents took advantage of the misunderstanding to peddle lies and falsehood about him.
The chairman noted that he returned to Obi local government area to perform his civic responsibility and ensured that the exercise went on without any hitches.
He urged politicians to always play by the rule and not go to any length to malign their opponents.
