Envoy decries media report over 'Nigerian' arrested for registering to vote

The acting Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs. Adekunbi Sonaike-Ayodeji has advised media to be circumspect in their reports in order to avoid misleading the public, most especially as the general elections draw near.

Mrs. Ayodeji made this statement at a press briefing today, 20th of May 2016 at the Chancery of the Nigeria High Commission, in Accra while debunking the story widely reported of a supposed Nigerian arrested on the 9th of May for registering during the just ended limited registration exercise.

According to her “after thorough investigation and interrogation of the suspect named Evangelist Vandal, he confessed he’s not a Nigerian; neither do we have his name on our database”.

Proving the invalidity of the report claim that the suspect is a Nigerian as journalists question- if the High Commission is intentionally denying the suspect due to the sensitivity of the issue involved, she opined “It is worthy of note that in the report widely circulated online and in prints, detail how Ghana Police went about their investigation before and after arrest, but was silent on how they concluded he’s a Nigerian, neither was any document to prove the claim was made available.”

“I must also reiterate that we are not only reacting to the story, but we have also been proactive about letting Nigerians in Ghana know that it’s not their right to vote in another man’s country, just like foreigners were not allowed to vote in 2015 presidential election in Nigeria.”

When probed further if he (Evangelist Vandal)could have been one of those Nigerians who had find their way into Ghana without necessary documents due to the free movement of people from the two biggest Anglophone West African countries, and as a result of porous borders in the region, she said “ even if a Nigerian in the country fall into that category, and haven’t register at the High Commission because the person has no documents, he or she must be able to provide information on which local government he or she’s from in Nigeria, and as well provide document to back it. But in the case of Evangelist Vandal, he denied being a Nigerian at all.”

Cautioning the media to do due diligence when reporting, most especially issues relating to Nigeria and Nigeria High Commission, Mrs. Ayodeji cited an example of an erroneous report published about a deputy Nigeria High Commissioner said to have been involved in a road accident in April “It was false, as Nigeria High Commission, as at the time of report had no deputy High Commission, neither did any of our diplomats was involved in an accident”

She however urged the media to make effort to verify reports in order to avoid misleading the public, even as general elections approaches.

Electoral Law

According to the regulations, only citizens of Ghana, per the dictates of Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, who are 18 years and above and of sound mind have the right to vote and are entitled to be registered as voters for the purposes of public elections and referenda.

Background

It would be recalled that a supposed Nigerian by the name Evangelist Vandal, 32 was arrested on the 9th of May, for allegedly stealing a woman’s phone, and subsequently for unlawfully registering during the just concluded limited voters registration exercise.

While his Ghanaian accomplice, Solomon Kpakpo, 28, who was said to have guaranteed for him during the process is also in the grip of the police for flouting electoral laws.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Juliana Obeng, a lady reported to the police that a young man had stolen her mobile phone. In the course of investigations, Evangelist Vandal was arrested and, during interrogation, the police detected that the suspect had indelible ink on her left forefinger.

She said the suspect mentioned the name of his accomplice who was later arrested. The two have initially been charged with registering without qualification and knowingly giving false information to Electoral Commission officials, contrary to regulations.