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| A man who sustained cuts on his body during an attack by political thugs in Ebonyi |
FOUR days after, the swirling dust of discontent is gradually settling following the crises generated by last Saturday’s governorship and states assembly elections in Nigeria. At some point while the elections lasted, the confusion engendered by disagreements between major contenders for elective positions threatened to spin out of control and sometimes climaxed into violence and bloodshed in some states.
This is the case in some states where the elections have not only been won and lost, but their outcomes also became instant subjects of heated disputes. The inability of the aggrieved actors in the dispute to rein in their anger only left the affected states having to now count their losses in human and material terms. It is a sadness and joy situation where some are celebrating their disputed victories, while others are sulking impotently in defeat; where others are already meeting and making plans on how to share the spoils of office, others are mourning and making arrangements to bury their loved
ones who died during violent clashes between rival political interest groups. There are also several others who are now ruing the loss of their prized possessions and means of livelihood.
This is the sad story being told in Rivers, Ebonyi, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi and even Lagos where killings and destruction of property featured prominently during the elections.
EBONYI: Four killed, eight vehicles vandalised
The rate of political violence that took place during the last governorship election in the state was indeed unprecedented as about four persons were reportedly killed and over eight vehicles destroyed.
Vanguard Features, VF, could only confirm four deaths but speculations during and after the elections have it that the death toll arising from last Saturday’s election rose to about seven persons across the state.
The violence recorded in the state occurred before and during the commencement of the election in the 13 local government areas of the state. They were recorded mainly in the North and Central senatorial districts of the state. None was reported in the south senatorial district of the state because of they were united during the election to ensure that power shifted to their zone.
Meanwhile, violence was recorded in Ishielu, Ezza North, Ikwo among other parts of the state.
The root cause of the violence has been traced to the alleged resolve of Governor Elechi to use an opposition political party to make good his vow that his Deputy, Dave Umahi, would never emerge victorious at the polls.There was outrage at Oriuzor in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state as over eight vehicles were destroyed on the eve of the governorship election. Several supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sustained both machete and gunshot injuries following attacks by hoodlums, thugs and hired assassins from neighbouring states allegedly sponsored by desperate opposition politicians in the state.
In Ebonyi Central zone a notable senator (names withheld) has been accused of masterminding the shooting and snatching of ballot boxes that took place during the governorship election.
Giving a vivid background of the violence that took place in his community in Oriuzor in Ezza North local government areas, a PDP stalwart in the area, Mr. Chinedu Nwoye explained that: “We were having our stakeholders meeting on Friday by 5pm before the election only to be attacked by gunmen in my compound. Those in attendance were over 500, including women and youths. As the meeting progressed, we saw thugs numbering about 20 approaching us with cutlasses, AK47 rifle, pump action guns who started shooting sporadically into the place.
Sporadic shootings
“My house was torched, many of us sustained both machete and gunshot wounds; about eight vehicles belonging PDP party faithful were vandalised by the hoodlums.
“We call on the IG and the state Commissioner of police to wade into these attacks on us and bring the perpetrators to book”.
Still in a Ezza North, it was learned that during the election, a young man was equally shot dead in Nkomoro leaving community as community members wondering why politicians would want to kill those they plan to govern.
At both Ishileu and Ikwo LGA of the state, two persons were reportedly shot dead in the early hours of saturday by unknown gunmen in the state. The victims included a middle aged man, Mr. Mike Ojor, in Ikwo Nnoyo community in Ikwo local government area and the Chairman of PDP in Ishielu LGA of the state, Mr. Emeka Nworie.
A source close to VF revealed that the late PDP chairman was who was attacked in his house in Ezzagu in Ishielu LGA was not killed by political thugs loyal to any opposition party but that he was killed during a squabble that took place in his house on how to share funds meant for the election.
Violent incidents
However, the state Police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu, stated that before killing the PDP stalwart, the assailants asked for money which was generously given to them. But this obviously was not enough for them as they still went ahead to kill their victim.
The Governor-elect in the state, Dave Umahi, has since condemned the violent incidents.
Speaking with VF, a victim, Mr. Nwoye, who sustained machete cuts on his head and leg, blamed the violence on the activities of desperate politicians in the state. “My brother, I did know how I survived; these hoodlums shot directly at me but God saved my life. I sustained wounds on my back, head and leg. In fact, we all ran for our lives and thank God we are alive. The government should critically look into the conduct of elections in the state so that the change we desire will come to us”.
Rivers of violence, blood: Although the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State have come and gone, residents in some areas of the state have continued to relive the violence that marred the exercise in their areas.
President Kalabari Youth, Mr Livingston Memberi, who first raised fears of possible violence in Buguma, headquagers of Asari Toru local government area said there was so much shooting in Buguma. According to him, the Rac centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kalabari National College, KNC, Buguma was torched by suspected political thugs, adding that they detonated a dynamite in the place.
Detonation of dynamite
The house of the Commissioner for Women affairs, Mrs Joeba West, was also razed down in Buguma by political thugs.
VF also gathered that suspected political thugs shot for several hours. “Political thugs were just shooting indiscriminately. Most people had to remain indoors until the military moved in, “ the source said.
Though there were rumours that about two persons lost their lives in the shooting in Buguma, the state Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, however, dismissed the allegations as untrue. He said he was only aware of exchange of fire allegedly by political thugs in the area.
Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Prince Tonye Princewill, captured the violence in Buguma thus: “Door campaigning became door to door shooting and everything from dynamite to beheading became the order of the day. The number of bullets expended exceeded the number of voters. If we seek to govern in peace, we really must sanitise and demilitarise our political process “.
Meanwhile, CP Karma said peace later returned to the place when his men moved in to calm the situation.
The gun shots were not restricted to only Buguma community. In Ozuoba community, Obio Akpor Local Government Area electorates scampered for safety as the sounds of gun rented the air for several hours.
It was a similar story in Bomu, Gokhana Local Government Area and Biera in Khana local government. The guns boomed, people scampered for safety.
Reporters were on their way to Gokhana and Khana local government areas when good Nigerians advised them to return back to Port Harcourt. “They are shooting in those areas you want to go to. I advise you people to go back,” a youth in Eleme told the reporters.
The Police is yet to confirm reports of death in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area during the election. Community sources said about two persons were shot dead that day by political thugs.
The All Progressive Congress, APC, have in different statements called for cancellation of the election but some residents said they were not ready to go through another round of violence in the state in the name of elections. They pleaded with aggrieved political parties and candidates to take their matter to the election petition tribunal.
Imo: Shocker of an inconclusive election
The Imo gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections has become history. Part of the history is that it was declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Before the guber poll was declared inconclusive, there were some sideline events that made news. Fierce looking soldiers in the early hours of Sunday, prevented the Commissioner for Commerce and Market Development, Mr. Ogbonna Amadi, from entering INEC office, Umuneke, Ngor Okpala local council area.
Contrary to permutations, the former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and other top shots of the PDP, barely managed to garner a paltry 4,000 votes for the party in Orlu local council area. The story was the same at Nkwerre as the State PDP Chairman, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, lost to the APC.
In the Obowo axis, the likes of Chief Chris Okewulonu and Chief Longers Anyanwu, could not fly the PDP flag above their heads.
Those who made PDP proud in the state included Chief Ikedi Ohakim in Isiala Mbano, Eugene Dibiagwu, Engr. Gerald Irona and Gideon Nwaeze in Oguta, Chief Goodluck Nanah Opiah, Johnbosco Ben in Ohaji/Egbema and Oliver Enwerenem in Ezinihitte Mbaise.
In their own reaction, the leadership of APGA not only rejected the results already released by INEC but also demanded fresh election.
According to the State APGA Chairman, Peter Ezeobi, the elections were characterised by ballot box snatching, intimidation and other electoral crimes.
“This election is the worst that has been held in the country. It was marred by arrest of our party agents. Electoral officers were nowhere to be found and man other electoral vices,” Ezeobi said.
Akwa Ibom: Harvest of deaths
The Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State was marred by violence in the state. No fewer than six people were killed, while eight were injured in Nsit Ibom and Nsit Atai Local Government Areas of the state.
In Ukpum Ete Ward 1, Ikot Abasi Local Government, sensitive and non-sensitive materials were snatched away by thugs.
The situation was the same in Mkpat Enin LGA where two Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, adhoc staff were injured. Election materials were also snatched in Eket and Ibesikpo Asutan local government areas. But they were later recovered by the Police.
Lagos: Two corpses linked to polls found in Oshodi: In Lagos State, two corpses found in Oshodi and along Apapa – Oshodi Road were linked to the polls.
Plateau: Party supporter shot dead: In Plateau State, voting was nearly marred at the Sarkin Arab Ward and environs when a young man at nearby Ali Kazaure Polling Station in Jos North Local Government Area was shot dead by a security operative.
The deceased was said to be a supporter of one of the political parties and was engaging a supporter of another party in a scuffle before the security personnel standing by intervened to end the quarrel.
Intervention of security agents
In the course of the scuffle, the deceased allegedly drew out a knife and the soldier tried to take the weapon from him. He was said to have struggled with the soldier and this infuriated the soldier who fired at him.
The timely intervention of other security agents saved the situation and normalcy was restored in the area and elections continued.
Bauchi: Councillor beaten to death: In Bauchi State, the chairperson of Bogoro Local Government Area, Hassana Arkila, confirmed the death of the PDP councilor for Gizaki/Badagari Ward, Mr Musa Daniel, saying he was beaten to death by angry youths while on electoral duty.
Arkila described the attack on the councillor as unfortunate and linked the incident to saboteurs of democracy.
She said :” I want to confirm the death of a PDP councillor who was beaten to death by irate youths. l am assuring the people of the state that the full wrath of the law will catch up with the attackers”. The chairperson appealed to the perpetrators of the dastardly act to sheathe their sword and embrace peace, saying violence is not the solution to political differences.
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