NBA alleges voters’ inducement, intimidation by security agencies, thugs

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has alleged that there was widespread inducement of voters, security agencies’ intimidation of journalists and observers during last Saturday’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

In its second interim report endorsed by Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association Election Working Group (NBA-EWG), Mazi Afam Osigwe, yesterday, it stated that political parties induced voters with cash, food items, soaps and other items to vote their candidates.

It said these acts of inducement before security agents within voting precincts have the propensity of destroying citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.

Specifically, the group stated that the acts were observed in Kano, Abuja, Lagos, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Oyo and Kwara states.

The NBA also noted several reports of electoral violence across the country.

Party thugs and hoodlums, it stated, had a field day invading voting centres to snatch polling materials, destroy voting materials, harass, molest and intimidate voters and, in some instances, INEC officials.

“Suspected political thugs, accompanied by security operatives, particularly officers and men of the Nigeria Army, hijacked, destroyed materials, harassed, interfered with the voting processes, prevented votes counting in some polling units, hindered voting, intimidated and prevented some people from voting, chased away some party agents and observers from polling units and collation centres.

“For instance, in polling units 5, 6 and 7 of Ward 4 in Ogbomosho South Local Government Area of Oyo State, political thugs forced voters to show their ballot papers after voting before depositing them in ballot boxes.

In Abia, Kogi, Ebonyi, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Katsina, Osun (Ile Ife, East and Central), Sokoto, Kano and Benue states, the elections were generally marred by violence.

“In Abia State, armed thugs invaded and unleashed violence at Ekiri-Elu Central School, Aram Umuahia, forcing INEC ad-hoc staff to abandon the election and run for safety.

“Armed men stormed some polling units in Imo State and snatched election materials. In Ganaga/Township, PU: 09, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, political thugs, aided by some security operatives, disrupted the counting process at the PU, destroying ballot boxes and papers.

Also in Polling Units 04 and 07, Kuchi Ward, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, thugs disrupted voting as they attacked the polling unit and beat up INEC and police officers.

In Kaura Namoda, Kyam Baruwa Ward, violent scuffle among party agents led to the destruction of election materials and an attempt on the lives of some security personnel, among various other infractions across the country.