By Ayomide Otitoju
As voters in Anambra State head to the polls, allegations have emerged that APC governorship candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu and his running mate, Uche Ekwunife, may be plotting to manipulate the election to unseat the incumbent, according to multiple unverified reports circulating online.
The claims suggest the alleged strategy includes tampering with results through compromised INEC staff, police officers, and soldiers, as well as deploying hired thugs in fake police uniforms to intimidate voters and disrupt polling in certain areas. Key figures reportedly implicated include Ukachukwu, Ekwunife, Basil Ejidike, Chief Linus Ukachukwu, Arinze Aworgu, Tony Uche, and Dozie Ikedife, alongside some INEC personnel.
Sources citing intercepted communications and insider intelligence claim that INEC staff allegedly brought in from Ebonyi and Imo States were positioned to facilitate manipulation of voter accreditation and result transmission. Communications also reportedly indicate coordination between Ekwunife and the Ebonyi State APC chairman, with technical support aimed at manipulating backend election systems.
Other allegations include the procurement of BVAS-like devices to mirror and override official voter authentication and the insertion of fictitious names into the voter register at select polling units. Reports also suggest that campaign operatives recruited NYSC members to serve as ad-hoc INEC staff with promises of monetary incentives to manipulate results.
Security sources further allege that militia groups and armed thugs have been imported from neighboring states and staged in strategic locations, including Ogbaru and Nnewi, to intimidate voters and seize control of polling materials if necessary.
Officials reportedly warn that if direct result manipulation fails, the campaign may attempt to exploit backend vulnerabilities in INEC’s systems to achieve their objectives.
The allegations, if verified, point to serious attempts to compromise the integrity of the Anambra governorship election. Observers are calling on INEC and security agencies to investigate the claims urgently and ensure a free, fair, and transparent election.
Note: The claims remain unverified at the time of reporting and are based on alleged intelligence sources circulating ahead of the polls.
