Primary-Election Turns Violent In Ebonyi State Ahead Of Local Government-Polls (Details)

Primary-Election Turns Violent In Ebonyi State Ahead Of Local Government-Polls (Details)

A primary election for a five-man delegate and councillorship turned violent on Friday, ahead of the scheduled Local Government Area election on July 20, 2024.

Ireporteronline reports that chaos erupted during the election due to disagreements between members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the officials overseeing the process. The ensuing violence resulted in injuries to several youths, inflicted by hoodlums who infiltrated the election venues.

According to Vanguard, some youths sustained machete wounds amidst the disturbances. In contrast, anonymous sources from Ekka ward in Ezza North Local Government Area claimed no election took place there. However, Barr Ikeuwa Omebe, Commissioner for Rural Development and a stakeholder from Ekka ward, refuted reports of violence.

“Well, I am surprised at what you are saying. The election in my ward was peaceful. People queued behind the aspirant of their choice, and the election went on smoothly. In my presence, nothing like that happened. You know youths now, they are on their own,” Omebe stated. He added that any incidents might have occurred after the election, as everything was orderly during his presence.

Meanwhile, Agbo Sunday, a councillorship aspirant from Okposhi Ward I in Ngbo Central, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, claimed no election was held in his ward due to conspiracies against the process. “The Staff of EBSIEC didn’t play his role well. We were about four aspirants, but only the result of one contestant was counted. I am calling on Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the State Chairman of APC, and the EBSIEC boss to cancel this election because what happened on the field wasn’t an election,” Sunday asserted.

Similarly, Igwe Frank Arinze, another councillorship aspirant from Okposhi Ward I, accused the returning officer, Friday Onwe, of partiality. “When the returning officer realized that those standing behind me were more than those of Mr. Henry Okpe’s, he decided not to count my own. When we asked why, he said he was instructed to count only those on Henry Okpe’s line. After counting Okpe’s votes, the officials rushed into their car and drove off, while prearranged thugs attacked my people,” Arinze recounted. He further appealed to Governor Nwifuru, the APC State Chairman, and the EBSIEC boss to review the situation and declare him the winner, as he claimed a significant lead over his opponent.

The violent turn of events highlights the tensions surrounding the upcoming Local Government Area election in Ebonyi State, underscoring the need for fair and transparent electoral processes to maintain public trust and ensure peaceful outcomes.