Killings, ballot box and INEC office burning, voters boycott and militarization across the country characterized the Saturday March 9, 2019 gubernatorial and house of assembly elections. Many have described the occurrences, which were reported by various media organisations, as unprecedented. The presidential election which was conducted on February 23 had followed the same pattern except for the turnout of voters which was much more than that of yesterday.
Deaths
In Ibadan a serving House of Representatives member in Oyo State, representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, Temitope Olatoye was reported to have been shot dead by unknown gunmen.
In Rivers an aide to Governor Nyesom Wike and former caretaker committee chairperson of Andoni local government, Mrs. Emilia Nteh was feared killed by unknown gunmen few hours to the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday.
Nteh who served on Governor Wike’s cabinet as special adviser on gender matters in the state, was said to have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in her country home at Andoni and was taken to an unknown destination.
Police public relations officer, PPRO, DSP, Nnamdi Omoni confirmed that Emilia was kidnapped by “unknown gunmen but we cannot say she has been killed. In the course of repelling the kidnappers, a police officer was shot dead.”
Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, confirmed the murder of Emilia Nte shortly after casting his vote in Ubima, Ikwerre LGA, adding that, “Two persons were also killed in my mother’s village”, Egbeda in Emohua LGA.
Two security personnel on election duties for the governorship and state house of assembly elections in Katsina State were reportedly killed.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity to a reporter said the two security personnel were of the Nigeria Police force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC and were killed at Danmusa and Kankara local government areas of the state respectively.
Ondo state also recorded its share of killing during the elections, as two persons were feared killed and another one critically injured yesterday in Oba Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State as political thugs engaged security operatives in a gun duel.
This was just as an unidentified youth was shot dead at Umudim Umunwala ward in Nkwerre council area of Imo state. Also in Obizi Agwa soldiers allegedly shot one person dead while another was critically wounded
In Delta, armed men suspected to be political thugs on Saturday stabbed the ward chairman of one of the political parties in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Vincent Egbogbo, during the governorship and House of Assembly elections. The incident happened at ward 01, unit 07, Egide Street in Oleh.
There were also reports of the killing of a young man in Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State, after he snatched a ballot box on Saturday during the governorship and state house of assembly elections in the state.
He was shot dead by soldiers at a polling unit in Ikot Udo Ossiom village, Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Police in Anambra State confirmed the killing of two persons in Obosi area of the state during Saturday’s, State House of Assembly elections.
One report had it that a policeman s shot an election observer in Umuida community, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze north local government area of Enugu state.
The observer whose identity is yet to be ascertained was shot in the head by the police officer stationed close to the residence of Ayogu Eze, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
But other reports have it that the observer eventually survived, but the incident claimed the life of a 30-year-old man.
There were also reports of ballot box and result sheets snatching and arson across the country.
No fewer than 36,392 registered voters in three out of 10 wards in Ezza North Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State were disenfranchised in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state following an inferno that engulfed three Registration Area Centres (RACs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the council area.
Suspected political thugs about 2:15a.m on Saturday set ablaze all the voting materials meant to be used in Oriuzo 009; Okposi Umuoghara 007 and Ekaa 002 RACs.
Obinna Ogba, the senator representing Ebonyi Central zone on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the burning of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials by gunmen suspected to be political thugs at Registration Area Centre (RAC) located at community Secondary School Okposi, Umuoghara, in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State.
Low Turnout
Also most voters refused to turn out to cast their voters during the guber polls, unlike the presidential election which witnessed some high level of participation. Reports across the country suggest that not more 50 per cent of those who turned out to vote during the presidential election of February 23 turned out for the guber polls on March 9.
In some areas, such as Satellite Town and Surulere, officials had to ring bells and make announcement through the public address system along the streets to invite voters to turn up. The low turn, which many have attributed to lack of interest and security related issues was witnessed across the country, though at different levels.
The heavy presence of military men and other security personnel across the country, especially in the South-South parts of the country also scarred some voters, who stayed at home because they feared they could be hit by any resulting violence.
As was the case during the presidential elections, materials and INEC officials also arrived late across the country, further dampening voters enthusiasm.
In Edo state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former National Chairman of APC, who voted at Edo Staff Training Centre, GRA, Benin City, attributed the low turnout to the absence of governorship election in Edo State.
Condemnation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians allegedly by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9, 2019 Governorship and state assembly elections.
The party in a statement Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections by the Buhari Presidency and the APC.
Former Head of State and chairman of the presidential election peace committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, also expressed serious concern at the poor turnout of voters in yesterday’s election, said he was “short of words” to explain the situation. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room blamed the situation on the, allegedly, rigged February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections. They said the poor presidential poll might have discouraged voters from coming out to vote since they reckoned their votes might not count.
