HOODLUMS stormed several polling units in Lagos, destroyed electoral materials and chased away the electorate and officials of the independent National Electoral Commission during the ongoing presidential and National Assembly elections.
The ICIR also observed electoral violence in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In Lagos, a voter, Joey Akan, in a post on Twitter, disclosed that armed thugs destroyed ballot boxes and threw away ballot papers at Oba Elegushi.
The voter, who is also a journalist, said he was harassed and had to pull back for his safety.
Also, in a video circulating on social media, a young man was heard threatening voters, stating that the electorate shouldn’t vote for another party or will be dealt with.
“If you no fit vote for APC for here, go your house. Go house o, if I see you vote for another party, I will go look am, if I see you vote another party you will enter Wahala,” said.
In Lagos Mainland, thugs were reported to have destroyed ballot boxes and scattered ballots all over the street at Polling Unit 031.
In another location at Fadeyi, Lagos, a party agent was heard interfering with the election process. According to a voice from a video circulating on social media, voters aren’t allowed to vote for LP and PDP.
The ICIR also gathered that there was electoral violence at Ijaye street, Mafoloku, Oshodi, Lagos state. Ballot papers were burnt, and voters were also chased away.
Similarly, in FCT, armed hoodlums scattered voting materials and chased people away at the two polling units at the Gwagwalada Wazobia Park.
According to voters at the units, security officers on duty allegedly ran away before the combined team of security officers comprising soldiers, police , NSCDC, Immigration, Correctional Service, VIOs came to pacify the angry voters.
Many voters who spoke with The ICIR said the attackers knew that the area is a stronghold of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M