By Ishaya Ibrahim
The much awaited elections have come. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not disappoint.
Card readers performed fairly better, poll resumed earlier, voters were orderly, but security lapses here marred the elections in some parts.
The results have accordingly started trickling in from the polling units with the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar showing strong outing.
Driving all the way from Ajuwon to Allen Avenue area of Lagos state, TheNiche team encountered many military roadblocks that gave the impression that hoodlums have no room to perpetrate their evil.
However, at another polling unit in Okota, an area dominated by Igbo traders because of its proximity to Alaba International Markets, Ladipo Market and ASPAMDA spare parts markets, hoodlums moved freely and got the opportunity to set ablaze ballot papers.
Videos circulated on Twitter claimed that the angry voters captured one of the hoodlums and set him on fire.
Thugs also stormed some polling units in Surulere and Osolo was in Ajao Estate area of Lagos and disrupted the election.
In Rivers, it was bloody in Abonima. Gunmen took over the streets, scaring away voters.
“It is a black day in Rivers State as the Presidential and National Assembly elections turn bloody with many PDP members shot dead by the military in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
“In addition, reports from other parts of the state show a pattern of organised violence and shootings in some cases with the military, Police and APC as the main actors,” according to the Commissioner for information and communications, Emma Okah.
A statement by Okah described the situation as barbaric and appalling, coming after the people of Rivers State had complained aloud about the threats of rigging, intimidation and violence hanging over their heads.
Okah said: ‘Reports so far received show that in Bonny LGA, the Army and police stopped distribution of materials to the units.
In Ahoada West LGA, materials for ward 4 were hijacked by Hon Asita to his house.
“In Andoni LGA, only 3 wards received materials.
“In Degema LGA, materials meant for a section of the LGA were hijacked.
“In Asari Toru LGA, materials meant for a section of the LGA were not distributed while soldiers and officers of FSARS were going about disrupting voting.
“In Okrika LGA, voting materials for 4 wards were hijacked.
“In Gokana LGA, thugs came in military trucks and carted away voting materials in units 5, 16 and 17.
“We will give you further situation report as we receive them.”
Materials didn’t arrive
In Imo, Anambra there were reports of election materials not reaching their point of destination.
Apart from that, a lot of voters were confused about which polling unit to vote.
Those encountered by TheNiche expressed dissatisfaction with the process saying INEC did not do enough to tell them that where they registered is not where they would vote.
They expressed concern that the confusion would disenfranchise them.
Lesson for INEC
While it is too early to adjudge the process, the INEC has a lot of lesson to learn from the election, which is, manual election is susceptible to all kinds of problem.
