Ongoing governorship election in Kogi state has recorded wide spread violence and ballot theft.
Voting started peacefully in most parts of the state but reports from across the state confirmed that armed political thugs are moving around the state freely, shooting to scare voters away from their respective polling units and snatching ballot materials.
As at 12.50pm, we can confirm that ballot boxes and materials in virtually all polling units in Lokoja Ward A have been carted away by hoodlums. From Lokoja Club to Crowther Memorial College, to Lokongoma and Adankolo, the story is the same.
Senator Dino Melaye’s polling unit in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu local government and Odu-Ogboyaga unit of the PDP governorship candidate, Engr Musa Wada were not spared.
There was heavy shooting at Ayetoro ward 1 unit 004 where Dino Melaye voted this morning. Less than an hour after he left the voting unit, some hoodlums in two Hilux vans and a Honda Civic stormed the place, shooting into the air and went straight for the ballot box.
The ballot box was eventually taken away while some boys in the community chased the vehicles without success.
At Ward one, unit 004, Iluafon, Aiyetoro gbede, Ijumu LGA, ballot box was snatched by political thugs around 11:00noon.
Reports from Kogi East senatorial district confirmed unchecked acts of violence and ballot theft.
The ongoing governorship election has also recorded a harvest of deaths.
Two voters were shot when thugs invaded Maleye’s Aiyetoro polling unit. Both victims died few hours after. Umoru General and on Faruk were reportedly gunned down in Abocho, Dekina LGA.
