Vote buying, political apathy Mar governor polls in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi
As the electorate in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states filed out to elect their next governors, the custom of massive vote buying, voter apathy, disenfranchisement and outright rigging also filed out.
According to election monitoring groups, these actions called for the cancellation or extension of the polls in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, disclosed that its operatives arrested 14 suspected vote buyers in Bayelsa and Imo state.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the suspects were arrested following intelligence-driven operations that commenced several days before the elections.
According to Oyewale, a total sum of N11,040,, 000 comprising N9,310,000 intercepted from suspected vote buyers and sellers in Bayelsa and N1,730,000 intercepted from electoral fraud suspects across Imo State, were also recovered from them.
In Imo State, although there was heavy presence of security officials, which comprised deployments from the Army, Police, DSS, Civil Defence, among others, many eligible voters deserted the polling units, thereby creating room for politicians and their supporters to thumb print multiple ballot papers in favour of their preferred candidates.
This was the situation in Ikeduru, Orlu, Okigwe and Oguta areas of the state. At Ikeduru council area, ballot papers meant for the election ended up in the residence of a serving lawmaker.
Journalists who learnt of the development and attempted to venture into the compound to ascertain the true state of affairs were refused entry by stern looking security officials who threatened to “shoot anybody that dares to near the gate.”
In Kogi State, violence was reported in some areas with one Umoru Iduh who was allegedly an APC thug, reportedly shot dead at the Agala-Ogane Polling Unit in Anyigba metropolis in Dekina Local Council of the state. The incident occurred around 10am yesterday morning.
According to an eye witness, the deceased approached the polling unit and forcefully took BVAS and smashed it on the ground in his bid to destroy them and stop voting at the polling unit.
Umoru emerged suddenly at the polling unit in the morning, took the BVAS and smashed it on the ground. Not satisfied, he stood on it and started jumping on it frequently, for it to scatter to pieces. A person, suspected to be a vigilante rushed in from the crowd and fired at him killing him instantly,” said Abdullahi Danjuma, who claimed to be in the Polling Unit to vote at the time of the incident.
It was also alleged that alleged that some pre-filled results sheet were discovered in Polling units 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi State before commencement of voting, which INEC said it would investigate.
Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello, who arrived Polling Unit 11 Agassa/Ahache ward at 9.30am with his three wives, Hajia Amina Bello, Rashida Bello and Hafiza Bello, who all voted within 20 minutes, expressed optimism that his party would win the election. He urged the electorate to be peaceful and law abiding as they discharge their civic rights.