Widespread violence, death and manipulation of the
electoral process by vested interests yesterday scarred the governorship/state
assembly elections in the country.
No fewer than 21 people were killed,
most of them in the flashpoint states predicted by the security agencies
beforehand, and to which they promised to deploy more hands to nip in the bud
any threat to law and order.
The assurances turned out to be a
hoax with six deaths in Rivers, five each in Akwa Ibom and Kebbi, three in Imo,
two in Cross River, and one each in Plateau and Bauchi States.
Scores of other people were either
wounded in attacks by thugs, or intimidated by them.
The residence of the Rivers State
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Joeba West, in Buguma,
Asari Toru Local Government Area in was torched by hoodlums.
Turn out by voters was generally low
across the country in contrast to the huge enthusiasm shown by them during the
March 28 presidential/national assembly polls.
The Akwa Ibom killings occurred at
Mbiabong Etoi, Shelter Afrique (Uyo), Ndiya in Nsit Ubium, Etim Ekpo, and Ini
Local Government Areas.
The whereabouts of a reporter in one
of the local tabloids, Radar Newspaper, Mr. Aniedi Ukpoenang, was unknown last
night.
Ukpoenang was said to have been
abducted by PDP thugs at Ekpeyong Ufum village, Odoro Ikot clan in Essien Udim
LGA.
The Assistant Inspector General of
Police Baba Adisa Bolanta could not confirm the killings but promised to call
the Commissioner of Police in charge of Akwa Ibom state Gabriel Achong for confirmation.
Bolanta said: “I am not aware that
five persons have been killed. Let me call the CP to find out.”
Election materials -mainly ballot
boxes and papers – were freely snatched by thugs while voters, mainly
supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were harassed.
Consequently, the leadership of the
party in the state pulled out of the elections.
Of the six deaths in Rivers, three
occurred in Buguma, Asari Toru Local Government area, one in Omagwa, Ikwerre
Local Government area and two in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government area.
Elections materials were also freely
snatched in many parts.
Soldiers allegedly killed four
voters in Bayan Dutse Polling Unit, Ginga Ward, Suru Local Government of Kebbi
State.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident to journalists, saying: “Yes, we have
received report of the killings of four people allegedly killed by soldiers.”
He gave no details but said such
would be made available in due course.
The House of Representatives member
elect for Suru/Bagudo , Alhaji Abdullahi Suru, also confirmed the
development to reporters.
He said the incident happened around
noon on Saturday as accreditation was going on in the area which is an APC
stronghold.
A councilor was alleged to have
invited the soldiers to arrest some prominent elders in the area because he had
been prevented from accessing the polling unit to rig.
“The soldiers opened fire on the
voters who challenged them from ‘arresting’ the elders,” he alleged.
Three persons, suspected to be thugs
were killed in Imo State when a vehicle in which they were trying to escape
after snatching some ballot boxes somersaulted.
The incident occurred at Okwele in Onuimo Council Area of
the state.
An eye witness said the hoodlums had
just snatched some boxes when they sighted an army patrol team. The soldiers
gave them a chase and in the process, the driver of the thugs’ vehicle lost
control leading to the vehicle to somersault
.
There was heavy shooting at polling
units in Owerri North, Aboh Mbaise, Onuimo, Oguta, Oru East and Ohaji-Egbema
Council Areas while soldiers arrested some hoodlums wearing army uniform and
armed with AK 47 rifles in Aboh Mbaise Council Area.
The suspects, it was gathered, had
attempted to snatch electoral materials.
Governor Rochas Okorocha who is
seeking reelection on the platform of the APC condemned the violence that
marred the elections.
Speaking to reporters after voting
at Ogboko he blamed the violence especially in Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema, Aboh Mbaise
Council Areas, on desperate politicians.
He said a panel of Inquiry would be
set up to investigate the involvement of politicians.
Source: The Nation
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