African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has accused some politicians of stealing election result sheets at polling units and warned that the practice puts the lives of Independent National Electoral Commission ad hoc staff in danger.
Amaechi made the remarks while addressing a gathering of young people, where he urged Nigerians to stay at polling units after voting to witness the counting of ballots and protect the integrity of the election process.
The former Rivers State governor said election manipulation often begins at the polling unit, where politicians attempt to interfere with result sheets before they are properly processed. He said such actions expose INEC ad hoc officials to unnecessary danger because they become targets during attempts to alter election outcomes.
Drawing from his years in politics, Amaechi said he understands how elections are conducted and insisted that the polling unit remains the most important stage of the voting process. He encouraged voters to remain present until the counting is completed and the official result sheet is made available.
He also advised Nigerians to insist that election results are uploaded before election officials leave the polling unit. According to him, public vigilance during the process can help reduce opportunities for electoral malpractice and improve confidence in election outcomes.
Amaechi urged parents to carefully consider the risks faced by young people serving as INEC ad hoc staff during elections. He said politicians involved in manipulating results often pay little attention to the safety of election workers while pursuing their interests.
The ADC chieftain further called on citizens to defend their votes peacefully and lawfully. He said large numbers of people demanding transparency at the appropriate places could discourage attempts to tamper with election results.
Amaechi also referred to a past governorship election involving Rabiu Kwankwaso, claiming that public presence around the electoral process played a role in ensuring the final result reflected the votes cast.
He maintained that greater public participation and vigilance at polling units would strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and make it more difficult for politicians to interfere with the outcome of elections.