Varied claims emerged on Saturday about the conduct of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nestor Ezeme, alleged widespread violence and electoral manipulation.

But a Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in Enugu State described the exercise as “largely peaceful” and  accused the PDP of deploying forged party agent tags.

The opposing claims came as voters across the six local government areas of the senatorial district participated in the poll to elect a new representative in the Senate.

Ezema, who showed reporters several “forged tags”, alleged they were recovered from people armed by the CRPP to work for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He stated that the CRPP in the state “is an extension of Enugu State government”.

He expressed confidence that he was heading for victory, claiming reports from across the district showed massive support for his candidacy.

“So far, from the reports I am getting all over the senatorial district, the people are voting for me massively. It is so massive that it looks like it will be a landslide,” he said.

The PDP candidate, however, alleged that the electoral process was being undermined by intimidation and interference from government officials.

“Virtually in all the local governments, you see local government chairmen, commissioners and other government officials moving from one polling unit to another trying to manipulate the system,” he alleged.

Ezeme also alleged that violence erupted at Ofu Ogu Polling Unit in Ovoko Ward, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, where his party chairman was attacked.

According to him, the chairman sustained severe injuries and was receiving treatment in hospital following the incident.

“My party chairman is so critical in the hospital that I fear for his life,” he said, alleging that armed men invaded the polling unit, attacked party members and disrupted voting.