Abuja – Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo says the Police in Benin have arrested some people  for allegedly being in possession of Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machine in the state.

Oshiomhole made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday at an interview with.

He spoke after the meeting of political stakeholders and candidates contesting the Edo Governorship election with the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega.

The governor  said that some people had been arrested for illegal purchase of voter’s card with the connivance of some INEC officials.

“Documents and photocopies of those involved in the misconduct have been presented to INEC with a call that Jega should follow up to ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.

“Most of us know Jega as an incorruptible man. But we, however, appreciate that within INEC, we do have corrupt elements who undermine the official policies of the commission.”

Oshiomhole  said the chairman’s attention had been drawn to the illegal transactions with specific evidences.

“For example, we are able to provide evidence of voter’s cards that were being procured by officials of PDP in Edo.”

The governor said that the stakeholders raised some issues and expressed satisfaction with the ways and manners the issues were handled.

“We have also assured INEC chairman that we will do all things possible to monitor and share information with him, so that the chairman can look vertically and horizontally within the INEC system and identify the unscrupulous elements.

“We also warned that if we are going to have peace and stability in the polity, the era of  imposing candidates on Nigerians should be a thing of the past. We just have to do it right this time.”

Also, Retired Maj.- Gen Charles Airhiavbere, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate,said that the meeting was highly successful and very cordial.

“INEC has assured every political party in the state of a level playing field with one man one vote.”

He said that the INEC explanations would be taken back to his party and if the party members were satisfied with the explanations, they would abide by them.

According to Airhiavbere , if the PDP is not satisfied with the explanations, the party will take the next line of action.

He, however, debunked Oshiomhole’s claim that voter’s registered cards were procured by officials of PDP in Edo.

Airhiavbere  said that he had petitioned INEC on electoral malpractices in the state, which was acknowledged by Jega at the meeting.

Chief Solomon Edebiri, All Nigeria Peoples Party  (ANPP) Governorship Candidate, said the agenda for the meeting were outlined on the basis of petitions by various political parties to the electoral umpire.

“From the look of things, we are all satisfied.”

Edebiri challenged all stakeholders to come together and fight against violence during and after the elections.

The meeting was attended by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ANPP, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Labour Party (LP), the National Conscience Party (NCP), the PDP, and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).