Five adhoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the eastern Nigerian state of Imo were on Saturday arrested for thumb-printing ballot papers in the governorship supplementary election in the state.

The officials were arrested at Omuma Primary School in Oru East local government following an order by Mr Mike Igini, one of the resident electoral commissioners deployed to Imo for the election. Igini is the resident electoral commissioner in edo State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Dr Gabriel Ada, who confirmed the arrest, said that the officials were already in police custody.

Ada said the adhoc workers connived with agents of an unidentified political party to thumb-print ballot papers leading to their arrest.

In the same vein, the election has been cancelled in Ozuh Primary School, Omuma following the arrest of 25 persons claiming to be INEC officials by military men.

The arrested persons and the election materials in their possession were taken to the Oru East local government headquarters.