Prosecutors and election officials said the operation was part of an investigation into the failure to deliver election materials to several polling stations, prompting unproven claims of fraud.

A private company was also raided.

“They didn’t manage to deliver election materials to 15 polling centres in Lima,” said Piero Corvetto, head of the National Office of Electoral Processes.

AFP reporters at the headquarters said there was a sizeable police presence outside the building as a small crowd of demonstrators began to gather.

One held a sign calling on Corvetto to resign.

The delay fuelled claims of fraud among supporters of some of the 35 candidates trying to be Peru’s ninth president in ten years.

Even before election day, some of those lagging in the polls had claimed foul play, without providing evidence.

Pre-election polls showed no candidate was polling above 15%, well short of the 50% needed to win outright, making a two-person June runoff likely.

But the irregularities risk putting the result and the process into doubt.

About 238,000 votes separated second and third place during the last election in 2021.