Thugs disrupt elections in parts of Port Harcourt

Suspected political thugs disrupted Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in parts of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The affected polling units include Ward 5 Unit 43 Elelenwo and Ward Nine Unit Three, Rumueme, both in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspected thugs, whom some voters described as “vigilantes” stormed Ward 9, Unit 3 Rumeme, around 4.20pm in two Toyota Sienna buses.

He ordered election officials and materials into their vehicles and drove away while unarmed security personnel in polling units watched helplessly.

Earlier, a voter in the unit, Samuel Uzochukwu, told NAN that he and his wife had been at the polling station since morning waiting for INEC officials, who arrived late.

According to him, the BVAS machine brought by the officer could only be used for a short time before it was repaired.

“The exercise is fake; we have been here since the morning and it is now 3.53 pm and only 40 people have been accredited and we have over 2000 voters here as you can see,” he said.

Another voter, Emma Ajoku, said she went out to vote but was disappointed that she could not vote at almost 4pm.

“They started at 11. and said that there is a BVAS that does not work and so far few people have been accredited,” he said.

In Ward Five Unit 43 Elelenwo, some suspected thugs seized the ballot boxes before the votes could be counted by INEC officials.

The voter, Johnson Woka, said the criminals entered the polling unit, chased away the voters waiting for their votes to be contested and threw them away with the ballot box.

“When the political thugs came to the centre, they insisted that the votes would be counted at the Registration Area Center (RAC) and some voters protested.

“We told them that what they are demanding is contrary to the INEC process which states that votes should be counted in polling units.

“They proceeded to the Presiding Officer and police officers one by one and said they had agreed to move the ballot boxes to the RAC which we know is not true,” he said.

Another voter, who gave her name as Cynthia said the thugs also harassed some voters who tried to resist.

“One of the political thugs even destroyed an iPhone owned by a woman who was allegedly filming while storming the center,” he said.

In Unit 20, Ward 10, Obio/Akpo LGA, all the voters were frustrated that they were disenfranchised because the BVAS was not working when INEC officials left the polling station with some policemen.

Some of the voters, Grace Ogar and Austin Omoko, said they were frustrated that no one voted.

The Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO), Isaac Okpiri, said, “as you see everywhere accusations are made and everyone is tense. I can’t say anything more.”

A voter in Ward 10, Unit 21, Faith Mark, said she did not vote because the BVAS machine was not working in the unit.

“They mentioned only 100 names. Some military men came and INEC officials went with them,” he said.

Another voter, Ifeanyichukwu Nsuofor, expressed dismay at the disenfranchisement, saying the three BVAS machines in the unit were not working. (NAN)