Polling officers at Yelwa community in Agwada Development Area of Kokona Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, yesterday, fled to the palace of the traditional ruler, the Sarkin Yelwa, Alhaji Maiwada Dauda, after thugs allegedly working for the PDP, snatched the ballot box there and attempted to abduct them.
A shaky male voice which spoke to Daily Trust on phone, said he is the presiding officer, Hussain Siggi Hamma, there. He told Daily Trust that a large gang of thugs stormed the polling unit and attempted to snatch ballot materials from the electoral personnel. This was at about 1pm after voting commenced at the station.
He said the action of the thugs sparked a mob action, resulting to voters, including women being injured. The thugs over-powered everybody, according to Hamma, and snatched the ballot materials, while also attempting to abduct the electoral officers.
He said the plan of the thugs was to get him to endorse the result sheet after they might have completed thumb printing in a hideout.
He said at the time the thugs stormed in on the polling station, most voters had already cast their votes, and were waiting for the completion of the exercise.
He said the policeman and some Civil Defence personnel attached to the station did not act.
An eyewitness spoken to on the phone complained that the police in the area were yet to do anything, an hour after the incident.
The Divisional Police Officer in the area, Mr. Patrick Onah Agbo confirmed the incident when he spoke to Daily Trust on phone. "I sent the D.O. (Divisional Officer) in Agwada to go there. The Civil Defense personnel called him and said that the matter has been resolved there. That they have re-started their voting."
But a voter there said voting was disrupted came to a halt after the thugs left with ballot materials.
Source: DailyTrust
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