THERE are reports of voter intimidation and ethnic discrimination in some polling units across Lagos State by some persons supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the presence of security officials.
Voting has largely been peaceful in the state but some videos have emerged showing pro-APC supporters insisting on the party or tribe that can be allowed to vote in some polling units.
In one of the videos seen by The ICIR, the head of the Lagos State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, could be heard threatening to resist any Igbo who attempted to vote.
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“Any Igbo wen dem born well, make e come vote again; me I dey here,” MC Oluomo said as a police officer standing by tapped him on the back as if trying to appease him as voters stood watching to see what would happen.
A second video captured a man clearly telling voters they would only be allowed to vote for the APC party.
“If you no fit vote APC for here, go your house. Nobody force you come here. I go come check am. If I see you vote another party, you go enter one chance. We no come joke for here,” the unidentified man yelled.
Political thugs supporting the ruling party also disrupted voting at Oba Yekini, Elegushi Street; Ikate, Lekki; Akinyele street in Aguda, Surulere and Fadeyi areas of Lagos state, scattering ballot boxes and interfering with the election process, in the presence of security men.
“I collected a couple of slaps for fighting back before I got pulled from the melee, into a house for my safety. Now I have to be smuggled out of the voting area because I have been marked,” a journalist and CEO of Afrobeats Intelligence Joey Akan said.
The ICIR reports that as of press time, the police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had arrived at Oba Elegushi after residents staged a protest chanting “we must vote” and with improved military presence, voting has resumed in the area.