VOTING was disrupted at a polling area in Modakeke, Osun State, on Saturday after persons suspected to be policemen allegedly seized election materials and dispersed voters.
The incident occurred as voters across Osun State went to the polls on Saturday to elect the next governor.
Eyewitnesses at Modakeke Ward 10 in Ife East Local Government Area said the polling area had been peaceful before voting was disrupted after suspected police operatives allegedly arrived at a polling area, seized election materials and dispersed those present.
A witness in a viral video alleged that the men took away election materials and subsequently released what was described as tear gas, forcing voters, INEC officials and party agents to flee.
“All the election agents and corps members took to their heels as soon as they arrived,” the witness said.
Other reports also alleged that police personnel invaded a Registration Area Centre in Ife East, where election materials were being distributed, and fired tear gas at voters and election officials.
A video shared on Facebook by the member representing Ede North/South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam also showed men in police uniforms around a vehicle as election materials were allegedly being taken away.
In the video, a voice alleged that police officers had invaded the RAC and used tear gas to disrupt the distribution of election materials.
Salam called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the allegation.
“There is an allegation that some of your men in this video just invaded a RAC centre in Ife East Local Government Ward 10 (Modakeke Ward 3) and fired tear gas to disrupt the distribution of election materials at a RAC centre. The materials have been carted away,” he said.
He urged the police to investigate and act now to protect a credible electoral process in Osun State.
The allegation was also raised by the spokesperson for Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who said persons already gathered at the RAC were allegedly attacked with tear gas while preparing to move to their polling units with election materials.
“We urgently call the attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security authorities to this situation,” Olajengbesi said.
He called for an immediate investigation and urged authorities to take steps to ensure that voting proceeded peacefully.
“The people must be allowed to exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation,” he added.
The Imole Campaign Council is the organisation coordinating Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign. Its official website identifies Olajengbesi as its spokesperson.
The ICIR contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Ojelabi Abiodun, to confirm the incident, but Abiodun requested that the questions be sent via WhatsApp. The questions were subsequently sent, but the spokesperson had not responded as of the time of filing this report. Calls placed afterwards were also unanswered at the time of filing this report.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.