Voting was distrupted on Saturday in the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency by-election at Unit 5, Ward 13 in Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State when suspected political thugs snatched the ballot box.
The attack by the hoodlums caused panic with many voters taking to their heels.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name published, said that the attack occurred just before noon after not less than 63 people had cast their votes
He explained that the hoodlums caused some commotion and while security personnel at the polling unit were trying to restore peace and order, one of them snatched the ballot box and fled the scene.
The eyewitness said that though the hoodlums made away with the ballot box, the result sheet, BVAS machine and other materials were not taken.
About 407 voters were registered at the polling unit for the election.
Meanwhile, INEC has lauded the turnout of voters in the by-election for Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency in Ondo State.
Prof. Kunle Ajayi, National Commissioner supervising Osun, Ogun and Ondo State, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen at Okeagbe in Akoko North-West LGA, after monitoring election.
“From what we have observed since morning, the election is going on peacefully, and the turnout is impressive, no violence, no vote buying anywhere.
“So, we have not recorded any terrible incident since the start of the election and by grace of God everything will end peacefully
“Everywhere we have been to, there was no report of challenges with the BVAS machine or cases of it malfunctioning,” he said.
Commenting on the incident of ballot box snatching at the Unit 5,Ward 13, Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, the national commissioner said that the situation had been restored to normalcy.
“It is normal that miscreants will remain miscreants, they attempted to disturb the election there but the police overpowered them and we have restored everything to order and no other incident apart from that.
Meanwhile, some members of the Labour Party (LP) on Saturday in Enugu, protested the failure of INEC to provide original result sheets for the Enugu South Urban State constituency re-run election.
Members of the Labour Party at the Robinson Primary School, Uwani and Uwani Secondary School venues of the election alleged that INEC failed to present the original result sheets for the election.
However, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who held a counter protest, said that they have seen the result sheets, insisting that the election must hold as planned.
The by-election is holding in only eight polling units at the Robinson Primary School, Uwani and Uwani Secondary School, situated on the same street.
As at noon, the election was yet to commence despite the huge presence of military, police and DSS operatives due to disagreement on the availability of result sheet.
Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu, who arrived at the venue of the election about 11:45a.m., pleaded with voters to allow for the conduct of the election, a plea which was roundly rejected.
The REC, who had earlier spoken to reporters in phone conversation around 10a.m., said he has not been briefed on why the election was yet to commence.
Reacting to the problem, the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial district, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, and the member representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Chimaobi Atu accused INEC officials of compromise.
Chukwu alleged that the election has been compromised.
“ I got to this place; I met with the Electoral Officer and told him to do the simplest thing by showing all the candidates the original result sheets which he has not produced
“That is what is causing the tension. I am worried because since INEC is yet to show the result sheets, the election may not hold.
“I have spoken with the Assistant Commissioner of Police and the army officer in charge.
“I have told them what is required. I told the INEC man to show the people the result sheet, very simple. If that is not done, there will be no election.”
On his part, Rep. Chimaobi Atu said that his constituents were frustrated but were ready to defend the electoral process.
“Getting to this place, there is no result sheet. The result sheet should be shown to them before anything. And INEC is not doing what they should do.
“So the people are demanding that the result should be shown to them so that there will be a free and fair election. That is what the masses are standing for,” he said.
The candidate of PDP in the re-run, Chief Sam Ngene, accused members of the LP, including National Assembly members, Chukwu and Atu, of disrupting the electoral process.
“The election was about starting until Senator Chukwu and his supporters came here to disrupt it.
“Yesterday night, the entire agents were shown the result sheets, but coming this morning, these people came here and started demanding for the result sheets.
“They should allow INEC set up their boots before demanding for result sheets. How can you be demanding for result sheets when they are yet to set up?
“They are jumping the gun. I am also calling on the security agencies to do the needful by moving Chukwu out of this place. He is not supposed to be here,”he said.
Also, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) accused INEC of barring its polling agents from Saturday’s Ebonyi South by-election.
Chief Nwaeze Onu, a chieftain of the party said this on Saturday.
“We do not have a single agent in all polling units across the senatorial district.
“We duly uploaded our agent list on the INEC system for accreditation
and distribution of identification materials to political parties,’ he said.
He said that the state NNPP chairman was at the INEC office in Abakaliki up till 9.pm on Friday but was told that there was no identification card for the party.
“We would not relent but it should be noted that we have been disfranchised from participating in the election.
“We cannot be on the booth when not accredited and will continue protesting this unfortunate development.
“INEC should realise that when someone is stopped from participating in an election, it is a breach of the electoral act,” he said.
Responding, Dr Christian Elekwa, the state INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department, denied the allegation.
“The uploading of party agents list was not done in the states; it was done at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
“The NNPP should have monitored the accreditation of its party agents in Abuja because that is from where such lists were sent to the states.
“The party should urge its national leadership to sort the issue and not heap blames on INEC,” he said.
The seat became vacant after Sen. David Umahi resigned to take up appointment as the Minister of Works.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently declared the seat vacant and INEC slated February 3 for by-election.
