Massive vote-buying was recorded in yesterday’s governorship election in Imo State, The Nation reports.
There were reports of politicians and political party agents trying to induce voters with cash and other gifts in Owerri Municipal, Owerri West, Mbaitoli, Owerri North, Isiala Mbano, Ideato North, among other local government areas in the state.
The development came to a head when armed hoodlums invaded the polling units at All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Egbu, Owerri North Local Government Area, and attacked party agents who were sharing money to buy votes.
The gunmen, numbering over 10, also snatched over N1.5 million being given to voters at the four polling units within the cathedral premises.
Our correspondent, who witnessed the development, saw the gunmen shooting consistently before swooping on the men sharing the money.
While the shooting was ongoing, some security personnel attached to the place took to their heels, while INEC officials at the scene, lay down.
Voters, party agents and observers, including journalists also fled the voting centres.
The hoodlums went straight to the four points where the monies were being shared and snatched them away.
One of the party agents, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that each of the polling units in the place was given N1 million amounting to N4 million for the election.
“But we had already shared a considerable amount of money before the boys struck. I only shared about N500,000 before the hoodlums struck”, he said.
The election also witnessed unimpressive voter turnout in most polling units, with only a few places where the participating major candidates hail from witnessing more voters exercising their franchise.
Though the election was generally peaceful contrary to the ugly expectations of pre-election pundits that the election would turn out to be a bloody one, there were reported cases of ballot snatching, diversion of electoral materials and officials and other forms of violence.
The Nation gathered that the low turnout of voters across the state was mainly due to the purported sit-at-home order issued by the leader of Biafra in Exile, Simon Ekpa.
However, vigilant security operatives successfully averted one of the attempts by political thugs to abduct INEC officials and seize crucial election materials.
The incident took place at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area in Imo State.
Amaimo is where the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu hails from.
Reports indicated that the thugs, armed and ready to pounce, sought to forcibly take INEC officials into their waiting vehicle.
But, swift and decisive action by security personnel stationed at the center thwarted the brazen attempt.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the armed security operatives fired warning shots into the air upon receiving an alarm from vigilant voters who detected the presence of the thugs.
The swift response compelled the assailants to retreat hastily into their getaway vehicle and fled.
An anonymous Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) operative at the scene said, “The thugs were coming to hijack the INEC officials and election materials.
“But luck ran out on them when some people started shouting during a stampede.
“It was their shouting that alerted the armed security personnel, who quickly shot into the air, forcing the thugs to take to their heels”.
Earlier in the day, the INEC officials arrived at some of the polling booths on time while in some areas, they arrived a bit late.
Security personnel mounted check points on major roads as early as 7:00a.m in Owerri, the state capital and its environs in enforcement of the restriction on movement.
Subsequently, there were minimal human and vehicular movements on the major roads.
INEC officials began arriving at their polling units as early as 8am. The officials arrived at the Govt House booths 001 and 002 at 9.02am.
Uzodimma commends exercise
The state governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodimma who voted at his Omuma ward, commended the exercise while observing that voters at the queue appeared to be very enthusiastic.
“If you see the kind of joy they expressed and the conduct has been very cordial and there is no interference. I have not seen anything that is suggestive of any likelihood of disorganization.
“It is an impressive outing too that people have come out to vote. I am not surprised because this is my home.
“I want to commend the INEC and security agencies for the kind of professionalism so displayed and how orderly the environment has become contrary to the ugly expectation that voting would not take place.
“It is not over yet. I just came to vote. It is very impressive and my happiness is that people came out to exercise their franchise.”
On the security situation, he commended the security agencies and thanked the people for behaving themselves during the election.
“I have not heard of any knockout. That shows Imo State is good to go. I want the whole world to see that Imo State is the destination and there is peace here and the election, contrary to ugly expectations, is going on free, fair and very credible and you can see how freely I have come here to cast my vote and INEC was able to process it in a few minutes.
“So I think that this is evidence for all of us to know that the good minds of Imo State are people who are committed to the interest of our state. They are really desirous of having Imo State blossom but those who are in the name of politics, sponsoring and financing mischief, banditry and all other forms of criminality must repent of their sins.”
On who would win the election, he said “Only God will know the outcome.”
At his Umunumo Ward in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Athan Achonu declared that he had great hope for the nation’s democracy.
He said: I believe that Mr. President wants to give us free and fair elections in Imo State. So, I feel great and have great hope for democracy in Nigeria.”
On the voter apathy, Achonu attributed it to the fear over the unusual movement of security personnel in the area.
“Several of them have never seen this number of security personnel in their lives before.
“But we were able to douse the tension and reassured them that the security personnel were in the area for their own protection and the protection of the process. So, they will be coming out.”
On the allegations of diversion of electoral materials, he said, “we already have that information and are still verifying them. We even heard that electoral materials for Orsu LGA were diverted to the house of a particular traditional ruler. But, we want to verify them before we go public.”
At polling 012 Central School, Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of the state where the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu voted at about 10.37 am, voters turnout was impressive.
Speaking after casting his vote, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Samuel Anyanwu alleged that there were shootings at his Amaimo ward in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
He said some persons came to his polling unit 012 Central School, Amaimo and started shooting.
He, however, said they were apprehended, adding that the voting in his ward was impressive.
He expressed optimism about defeating Governor Hope Uzodimma, maintaining that it would depend on the neutrality of the electoral umpire as the election progressed.
Also, in the same local government, precisely at Eziama Uguri Ike Ward 013 Amaechi Hall, voting commenced peacefully.
A chieftain of APC from the community, Prince Charles Amadi was optimistic that Governor Hope Uzodimma would win following the impressive turnout in Ikeduru LGA.
He said that he had advised the PDP candidate, Anyanwu to step down for Governor Uzodimma. “Everywhere is Hope. We have advised the PDP candidate to step down.
He commended the INEC for arriving early with all their materials intact. “INEC is doing very well, materials arrived on time. Our only concern is that the governor’s opponent wants to cause fracas but we are on top of the situation.
LP accuses APC of hijacking electoral materials
The Labour Party in the state accused members of the ruling APC in the state of hijacking the electoral materials meant for four wards in Ideato North Local Government Area.
The state chairman of the party, Barr. Calistus Ihejiagwa, who made the allegations in a statement he issued yesterday afternoon, said that the security agents were aiding the APC members to hijack and divert the materials.
He said “Rigging is ongoing now by APC at Akokwa in Ideato North LGA at the house of an indigene of the area.
“They hijacked all the voting materials from the four wards in Arondizuogu clan and are voting with it there.
“They have about 10 Hilux vehicles with police, army and NSDC. They blocked the roads and are giving APC cover as they rig the election
“Secondly, Governor Hope Uzodimma is moving around here in Ideato North LGA with heavy security men. Right now he is at the INEC office in Uruala inside the council headquarters manipulating INEC people.”
But the spokesperson for the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, said that there was no truth in the allegation.
He insisted that the APC members are conducting themselves well in the election.
Voting disrupted in Mgbidi
Voting was disrupted at Uzuna Umu Ward 1 ,booth 008 at Mgbidi in Oru West Local Government Area of the state as a result of quarrel between APC and PDP supporters.
A chieftain of the PDP, Joseph Ikpubundu from the area alleged the fight started when supporters of PDP opposed alleged vote buying by APC.
He alleged each voter was given N2,000 before casting their votes.
Also, the governorship candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP) Dr. Kemdi Opara described voter apathy as terrible. He said no amount of vote buying would stop him from winning the election. He said “If Governor Uzodimma wins, know that he rigged the election.
Army, Policemen disarm NSCDC) officials
At Umunyoche Obinuche, Nkwere LGA, an officer of Nigeria Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) who gave his name Policarp said some army officers and police personnel came to the polling booth to disarm the civil defence officers posted to the area and carted away their rifle and magazine.
Confirming the incident, a chieftain of PDP, Evangelist Mike Ikoku, said that the security personnel came looking for him.
“They arrived at the booth led by the dreaded Tiger Base officer named Kill and Bury, disarmed the civil defence officers and took away their magazines and phones.
I called Abuja, INEC and other people to report this ugly incident. When the heat probably was on them, they returned to apologise.”
Tony Anyehie, SA to the governor on Mass Transit, commended INEC officials for a work well done. “I am happy this is going to be most peaceful election in the country,” he said.
Police deny alleged shooting of PDP deputy governorship candidate
The Imo State Police Command yesterday denied that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate was allegedly shot by some hoodlums at his country home in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.
A report on Twitter now X alleged that Hon. Onyereri was shot by some thugs who besieged his home.
However, police spokesman in the state, Henry Okoye denied such an incident.
He said: “there is no incident like this, pls.”
But the PDP insisted that Onyereri was shot by some hoodlums who were hired by some leaders in Nkwerre LGA to carry out the act.
It was gathered that some armed thugs stormed his home between 3pm and 4pm yesterday.
Confirming the incident, the Director, Media and Publicity, Imo PDP(Sam-Jones) Governorship Campaign Organisation, Ikenna Onuoha said the incident happened between 3pm and 4pm. “He was allegedly shot by thugs who besieged his home and shot sporadically, making people scamper for safety before they shot at the deputy governorship candidate of the party.
According to him, some leaders from Nkwerre engaged the hoodlums. “He was allegedly shot but we are still investigating what transpired.
When asked if the deputy governorship candidate sustained any injury, he asked “have you seen who was shot that did not sustain injury.”
