By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
There was heavy protest at Omege Ward in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as suspected political thugs invaded the area, shot sporadically and set the BIVAS and other electoral materials ablaze.
The protesters stated that the materials that were meant for the polling unit were destroyed by suspects allegedly sponsored by the state government, against their right to vote for their preferred candidate in the election.
According to an eye witness, the suspects who came to the polling unit, shot sporadically and injured three persons who are currently at the hospital before destroying the BVAS machine meant for the election.
An APGA ward agent, Mr. Nwafor Benjamin, said it was an unfortunate situation as it has deprived the people of the right to vote.
“What happened here is very unfortunate and it has never happened in Omege Ward before, our youth and the civil defense men accompanied the materials from the local government to the polling unit.
“On reaching here, people were waiting for INEC to bring out the materials, unknown to us, some Ebubeagu people came down from a bike with pump action and started shooting and injured three people.
“One of them rushed to where INEC officials kept the materials and brought out sensitive items like the BVAS and register and started shooting to scare people away before burning the BVAS”. he said.
Another witness who spoke anonymously, regretted that the election materials were destroyed and consequently denied them the right to vote.
“We have been here since morning to vote but they have destroyed our materials, all the women are here to vote, we need to vote it is our right“. she added.
Omege Ward is the polling unit of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Gubernatorial candidate in the state, Professor Ifeanyi Bernard Odoh who has faced several attacks before election day.
In her reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs.Onome Onovewakpoyeya who confirmed the incident, said that police is on top of the situation to ensure sanity in the election
“Yes, we heard that hoodlums disrupted the place initially, and made away with BIVAS and others but right now, we are on city patrol, we are actually on it.” the Police PPRO said.
