Violence has begun to erupt in some parts of Nigeria as voters matched to their different polling units to cast their votes in the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly Election in the country.
As of the time of filing this report, the election has been violently disrupted in some areas in Lagos, Enugu, Imo, Port Harcourt and Kogi states.
In Kogi State, ballot boxes were snatched, INEC election materials destroyed and crisis emerged in some polling units where people have to run for their dear lives.
It has been reported that INEC materials were destroyed by thugs in Ogege Road Udaba Polling unit in Dekina Ward and voters have been forced to return home. It has also been reported that one person was injured in Unit 4 in Omala, Kogi State.
In Lagos State, thugs loyal to APC are forcing voters to vote for their candidate and anyone who fails to do their wish will have his or her life in danger.
This is making different parts of Lagos State to boil as thugs and some residents were seeing destroying polling units and election materials as well as scattering the ballot boxes and voting materials.
At Onipanu, Lagos, voters who attempt to vote or vote for Labour Party were seen being beaten. Thugs are following citizens to polling units to make sure they vote for APC.
At the polling unit at 254 Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, there were gunshots as thugs disrupted voting.
A journalist, Fisayo Soyombo reported that in Ebute Metta, Lagos, thugs working for APC disrupted voting at the PU at 254 Borno Way.
Military and policemen later showed up with senior INEC officials and cancelled voting in the area in line with the Electoral Act
Ikate Area of Lagos State has become riotous as residents were seeing protesting after thugs disrupted the voting process. The protesting residents were chanting, “We must vote, we must vote, we must vote.”
Residents of Ikate, Elegushi who have occupied the major roads around the area were seeing protesting after thugs disrupted the voting process.
Information revealed that thugs disrupted the voting process at Oba Yekini, Elegushi street, Lagos.
Enugu is also boiling as armed thugs attacked some areas including Owerre Eze Orba (Greenhouse UNN). The thugs are shooting at voters and beating Labour Party agents on duty.
In Ijaye, Polling unit 9, Ward 8, Ilasamaja, under Oshodi Local Government, INEC officials said that only 14 out of over 1000 registered voters would be allowed to vote without giving any reason.
In Iba Housing Estate, Ojo, Lagos, some thugs locked the entrance gate and allow only voters who want to vote for APC candidates alone.
In another polling unit at Fadeyi Area of Lagos, APC thugs are not allowing voters to vote for candidates of other political parties.
At Sangotedo Primary school, Eti-Osa LGA, polling unit 015 and 016, Lagos, there was a massive protest over the diversion of sensitive materials to another unit.
It was gathered that voters started protesting when INEC staff received a call that they must take sensitive material which they had brought to the unit to the Oba’s Palace.
In another polling unit at Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos, some thugs attacked voters but they were resisted by the Igbos.
Bayelsa State is not spared of the violence rocking the presidential and National Assembly Election as thugs invaded some polling units and disrupted election process.
In Epie 2, T. Junction, by custom and green villa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, thugs invaded and destroyed INEC materials.
In the South East, it is the same story. For instance, the INEC staff deployed to Enugu Sport Club 3, Enugu State left without conducting the election.