dss

• Arrests 4 in Imo   • Party dismisses claim

The Department of State Security (DSS) is on a warpath with the All Progressives Congress(APC) again as the agency has accused the party in Imo State of fraudulent voter’s registration.
The fresh allegation by DSS is coming two days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) exonerated APC in the accusation that it was planning to hack into the website of the commission. DSS had, after raiding the Lagos office of APC, alleged that the party was illegally registering members. It also alleged that the party had plans to hack into INEC’s website. The commission, however, said on Wednesday that there was no indication that its website was under a threat.
In its letter to the Resident Electoral Commission,INEC, Owerri, DSS in a letter titled: “Illegal Registration of Electorate by All Progressives Congress”  and signed by the state Director of Security, OP Adegboye alerted the commission of the illegal registration of residents of the state who do not have Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by the state chapter of APC.

The agency announced that four suspects, Ben Njemanze, Nnadi Michael, Stella Njemanze and Adanna Nze – were arrested at Emekuku Comprehensive College, Emekuku, Owerri North LGA while allegedly carrying out the illegal registration.
The letter stated that “on 9th January 2015, about 1350 hours, at Emekuku Comprehensive College, Emekuku, Owerri-North , four (4) members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were arrested on suspicion of illegally registering members of the public who are yet to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from INEC”
The agency explained, “investigation revealed that the registration exercise is statewide and is sequel to a directive by the state leadership of the party (APC) and allegedly by Gov Rochas Okorocha, who distributed registers with INEC inscription to party excos in all the electoral wards in the state for onward distribution to all polling booths for the above exercise.
“The action of the APC is generating tension among supporters of other political parties who view the exercise as part of a grand plan by APC to compromise the electoral process , with a view to rigging the 2015 polls.
“The fear of this category of electorate is further heightened by the fact that INEC in the state has dissociated itself from the exercise being carried out jointly by the APC and the state government.”
DSS recommended that “in the light of the foregoing , it is imperative for INEC to caution those engaging in such activities and reject any list that may be presented to it on behalf of those yet to be registered”.
The security agency alleged  that 90 persons were registered in the Emekuku exercise. The names were attached in the letter to INEC.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had earlier accused DSS of deliberately working to dent the reputation of the party. He said it was untrue that the party was engaging in illegal registration of the voters.