characterised by incidences of violence and ballot box snatching, amid
low turnout of voters.
A stray bullet in Anyigba, Kogi State, felled one person during the
exercise, while the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was held
hostage for hours in Adogo, Ajaokuta local government area.
Members of the REC's entourage scampered for safety, as angry youths,
protesting non-availability of ballot papers at some units, damaged
the INEC office and some official vehicles.
Also in Ayingba, youths loyal to the PDP and APC on Friday engaged one
another in a gun battle that left several persons with bullet wounds.
In Ikwuano Council and at Azumiri Ward, Umuahia South Council of Abia
State, voters were harassed, beaten up and intimidated by thugs
determined to disrupt the voting process.
Also, a ballot box was snatched from an INEC official at 008 Usaka
Ukwu Ward, in Ikwuano.
At Ahiaeke in Umuahia Ibeku, the vehicle of a chieftain of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was burnt, while the arm of the
driver of the vehicle was chopped off.
Although there was low turnout of voters, INEC, however, performed
better with the use of card readers, as almost all the polling units
had less complaint on the device.
A common protest, however, was the absence of incident forms. At the
Industrial Ward II Unit 15, in Aba North, where the card reader failed
repeatedly, local election observers harped on the absence of incident
forms.
Low turnout of voters and ballot box snatching were reported in Imo State.
Armed persons suspected to be political thugs snatched boxes in Omuma,
council headquarters of Oru East. The men invaded polling booths 006
and 008, at about 1.30pm, shooting into the air to scare away voters
before carting away the boxes.
An eyewitness said the thugs numbering about five arrived in sports
utility vehicles and overpowered security officials guarding the
booths. There were also reports of intimidation by soldiers deployed
to provide security for the election. Journalists from the state-owned
broadcasting corporation were reportedly detained for hours at a
checkpoint in Ubomiri, outskirts of Owerri metropolis. Asked why, one
of the soldiers told The Guardian that they were carrying out their
job as instructed.
Recounting his experience, a journalist, Uche Onyeoziri, said a
soldier simply walked to his vehicle and dispossessed him of his car
keys without giving any explanation.
Low turnout was also recorded in Ekiti State in Ilejemeje Constituency
in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The election was,
however, peaceful.
Police Commissioner, Mr. Joshua Ibine, deployed a large number of his
men to the 22 units in Eda Oniyo, Iludun and Iye Ekiti, headquarters
of the council. The officers mounted checkpoints at Ewu Ekiti, Ijesa
Modu, Iludun and Ipere Ekiti, preventing commuters and road users from
entering the council. There were also large contingents of soldiers
and officers of the State Security Service (SSS), who patrolled the
council to forestall breakdown of law and order.
A former commissioner in the State, Mr. Folorunso Olabode, said the
low turnout could be attributed to sporadic shooting witnessed in the
constituency throughout the night by people suspected to be political
thugs.
A voter, Mrs. Mary Adelaja, hinged the low turnout on the heavy
presence of security agencies and the violence that marked previous
conduct of the exercise.
There was, however, massive turnout of voters for the election across
local councils in Taraba State.
Under the watchful eyes of security personnel comprising the Army,
Police and Civil Defence Corps, voters trooped out en masse as early
as 8a.m, waiting anxiously for electoral officers.
--TheGuardian
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