Chaos Erupts at Ejigbo Polling Unit Over Alleged Vote Buying
Violence has erupted at a polling unit in Ejigbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, disrupting the voting process in Saturday's governorship election. The chaos was triggered by the discovery of materials belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) that are reportedly linked to vote buying.
According to Channels TV, an unnamed young resident claimed that he and a few other voters, unwilling to let the illegality slide, seized the materials. However, the action led to a conflict that affected the electoral process. The situation escalated when individuals reportedly associated with the materials arrived at the scene and allegedly attempted to whisk the youth away.
Residents and INEC Officials Flee as Tension Grows
Tension grew at the unit, and frightened residents and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials fled for safety. Video footage from the scene showed voters running in different directions. Motorcycles and vehicles moved through the area as people, scared for their lives, attempted to escape the chaos. No casualty has been reported as of the time of filing this report.
Some voters in the local government area earlier raised the alarm about an alleged vote buying incident involving a party. The incident triggered calls for ballot papers to be counted as residents pressed for transparency.
Party Agents Question Ballot Paper Count
The Cable reported that party agents also questioned the number of ballot papers supplied to a polling unit in Ejigbo. An agent reportedly asked, "You told us you brought 584 ballot papers, but after counting, it was not up to 584. How come?" The incident added to the tension and raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the area.
As the governorship election continues, the disruption in Ejigbo highlights challenges in ensuring a free and fair exercise. Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident, but the situation underscores the need for vigilance and transparency in the electoral process.
