The low turnout of voters at some polling units and snatching of ballot boxes by uniformed men, the destruction of ballots already cast, by hoodlums in opponents’ strongholds in Lagos, as well as general brigandage completed the picture of bedlam.
Rivers State, which was adjudged by bookmakers one of the flash points lived up to expectation as at least eight persons, including a soldier were feared killed in the violence that engulfed parts of the state during the presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections.
In various parts of the state there were reported incidents of sporadic gunshots, snatching of election materials and general voter apathy. Before voting commenced, unknown gunmen invaded the residence of an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mowan Etete, in Asarama, Andoni Council Area, killing him and his cousin.
The balance of the fatalities, including a soldier were recorded in Abonnema, the Headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Council.As early as 7am, scores of political thugs, armed with lethal weapons, including guns and machetes reportedly stormed a Registration Area Centre (RAC) located in Abonnema Girls Secondary School, Abonnema, where INEC ad hoc staff, party agents and observers were waiting for the commencement of distribution of election materials.
An eyewitness told The Guardian that the hoodlums macheted members of an opposition political party and shot one person dead.As news of the incident filtered into the community, members of the PDP were quickly mobilised for a possible reprisal attack, but before they arrived the scene, some military men deployed to Abonnema had moved into the area and started shooting sporadically.
The intense shooting forced people to scamper for their safety and made it impossible for distribution of election materials and for voting to take place.Similarly, in Bonny, sporadic gunshots rented the air for hours, making it impossible for election materials to be distributed till about 2pm.
INEC’s Deputy Director of Voter Education, Edwin Enabor said elections could not take place in Bonny because of the disturbance there. In Buguma, Asari- Toru Local Council, election had started peacefully when suddenly thugs stormed the community, carting away election materials for Ward 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
At least four National Youth Service Corps members were hospitalised after gunmen invaded units 2, 4 and 9 of ward 8 in Ubima, in Ikwere Local Council (home town of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi), where they were posted as ad-hoc staff.Over 20 gunmen, who were armed with other dangerous weapons, an eyewitness told The Guardian invaded the units shooting sporadically and carted away ballot boxes, looted and robbed INEC officers and voters.
