The Nigeria Police Force has urged residents and observers alleging security complicity in Saturday’s Ekiti election malpractice to present verifiable proof instead of relying on social media images.
The directive follows a viral photograph circulating online showing two female police officers standing near a voting cubicle in Ikere Local Government Area.
The image, shared by broadcast journalist Rufai Oseni, included claims that the officers were actively assisting individuals involved in vote-buying, drawing sharp public criticism.
Responding to the controversy on Sunday, the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, stated that allegations of electoral fraud are too severe to be predicated solely on a snapshot.
He clarified that the personnel depicted were performing their statutory role of maintaining peace and security at the polling station.
“If there is evidence that any officer aided electoral malpractice, such evidence should be presented for investigation,” Giwa stated, adding that assumptions weaken democratic institutions while verifiable facts reinforce them.
INEC had declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji winner with 319,224 votes, sweeping all 16 LGAs. Despite isolated vote-buying complaints, federal authorities and security agencies said the poll was largely peaceful and orderly.
