Thugs snatch ballot boxes in Kogi

Thugs snatch ballot boxes in Kogi

There was pandemonium in Kogi State on Saturday
as thugs disrupted voting process in Dekina Local
Government.
The incident happened in Igi, Omedo and Eti Ajah.
Freedom Online learned that after accreditation of
voters, the electoral officers in the affected polling
booths flagged off the voting process.
As the electorate started dropping ballot papers in
the boxes, the thugs stormed the units.
Freedom Online learned that the invasion was
coordinated by a prominent politician in the area.
He is contesting for a seat in the House of
Representatives.
The thugs started shooting and this led to
pandemonium.
Some of the voters were beaten and ballot boxes
snatched. The few policemen around could not
confront the heavily-armed thugs.
Some of the boxes were taken away before the
arrival of more policemen.
Electoral officers in the area had to contact INEC
office in Lokoja, the state capital, and a senior
official directed them to commence voting afresh.
A voter said: “It took the intervention of the
policemen who just arrived to assure us that we can
stay and exercise our franchise. It was a serious
matter as the thugs were just shooting
indiscriminately”.
Freedom Online also learned that some thugs, who
wanted to disrupt voting in Ayingba, were arrested
by soldiers.
Governor Idris Wada, cast his vote at Odu 1 polling
unit.
He urged the electorate to be peaceful, saying
security agents will deal with trouble makers.