Council polls: Voting halted in FCT ward as ‘hoodlums’ snatch ballot papers

File: Snatched ballot box

Some hoodlums, on Saturday, snatched ballot papers meant for A.U Suleman II polling unit at the 2026 Abaji area council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The election was halted as a result of the disruption.

Speaking with journalists, Musa Ibrahim, assistant presiding officer 1, said the hoodlums invaded the polling unit in Abaji south ward shortly after the election commenced at about 9am.

The official said two bundles of ballot papers, each containing 100 sheets, out of which 27 had been used from each bundles for the chairmanship and counselorship elections, were carted away by the hoodlums.

He, however, said the polling unit ifficials in collaboration with the security agents on ground were able to secure other sensitive and non-sensitive material.

Ibrahim said when calm was restored, attempts to continue with the process was stalled by some party agents who insisted that the missing ballot papers must first be recovered.

“We did the maths and saw that about 73 are missing. Since the BVAS has taken cognisance of the ones we have used, elections can continue and a detailed report will be made to address the matter,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“While some party agreed that the process should continue, some other agents strongly disagreed on the grounds that the stolen papers could be used to manipulate the outcome of the elections. Thecable