By Ayodele Oni
The bye election to fill a vacant seat at Ekiti state House of Assembly has turned bloody with not less than three persons feared dead.
The assembly position became vacant last month following the death of the member who represented Ekiti East Constituency one, Mr Juwa Adegbuyi.
Early reports reveal that several persons sustained various degrees of injuries as suspected thugs, dangling dangerous weapons, unleashed a reign of terror on the electorate and election officials.
The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress, (APC) are among the five political parties participating in the bye-election.
Among those that sustained injuries is a youth corps member serving as official in the election who is said to be currently receiving treatment at Ikole General Hospital.
The deceased persons, it was gathered, were shot by some armed political thugs who invaded a polling unit and opened fire at the electorate while attempting to snatch ballot boxes.
The incident was confirmed by the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Abutu, who said only a person has been confirmed dead, in a statement made available to newsmen.
According to the statement “Some suspected thugs attacked ward 7 Unit 7 Iworo in Omuo Ekiti, shooting sporadically while eligible voters were casting their votes in a bye election of Ekiti State House of Assembly.
“In the process, six persons were injured, among them were two policemen and one National Youths Service Corp(NYSC) member who are currently receiving treatment in Ikole General Hospital.,”
He also confirmed that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
