NBA decries high spate of violence during Bayelsa, Kogi guber elections

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has submitted its report on the governorship elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa and Kogi States held last Saturday where-in it laments the electoral violence in the two states.

In the NBA reports signed by Mazi Afam Osigwe, the Chairman, NBA Election Working Group, the association said, “There were several reports of electoral violence across Bayelsa and Kogi States. Thugs and hoodlums invaded voting centres to snatch polling materials, harass, molest and intimidate voters and in some cases, INEC officials.

“The voting process was interfered with as cases of voter intimidation were seen. Armed men in Police uniform carted away ballot boxes across polling units in Lokoja.

“In Fangbe, Bayelsa State, a young man was beaten to the state of unconsciousness by unknown young men. At Eribo Square in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, a member of the National Youth Service Corps was said to have gone missing after armed thugs attacked the place.

“In Angiama community of Southern Ijaw LGA, thugs disrupted the electoral process by intercepting and carting away the voting materials meant for the community, while in Ologi Ward 03 of Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, INEC cancelled voting exercise due to the spate of electoral violence and detention of an electoral official.

“In Maigumeri Army Barracks, Lokoja, a public announcement was made for voters to either vote for a particular candidate or leave the polling centre, failing which they would face dire consequences. There was open intimidation of voters at the polling unit.

“In Lokongoma Primary School polling unit, a police helicopter was seen hovering over the polling unit and shooting tear gas on voters. This led to a stampede at the polling unit and disruption of the voting process. At about 12:53 pm, some armed persons invaded the polling unit, snatched ballots and destroyed polling material while sporadically shooting.

“They dispersed the voters and other officials thereby leading to a pre-mature closure of the process. One person was confirmed dead at this polling unit,” the report stated.

The NBA, while commending the electoral umpire for recruiting 81 persons with disabilities as ad hoc staff for the Kogi State gubernatorial election, also added that, 10, 063 ad-hoc personnel made up of collation and returning officers were trained to conduct elections in Bayelsa State, with no fewer than 16,139 ad hoc staff recruited to conduct a seamless election process in Kogi.

The association observed that election did not commence at the scheduled time,  8 am in most of the polling stations in both States, due to the late arrival of INEC officials and materials.