By Akinwale Kasali
The Governorship and State House of Assembly Election in Lagos State was marred by unprecedented violence in some part of the State, where non-Indigenes were brutalised and disenfranchised by alleged All Progressives Congress, APC, thugs and hooligans.
They lamented that they were intimidated, emotionally and physically abused, traumatized and threatened by alleged APC supporters who didn’t allow them exercise their franchise just because of their States of origin.
Narrating their ordeal at different Polling Units across the State most especially, Eti Osa Local Government Area, Okota, Oshodi, and many more, they said that the thugs and hooligans who are, allegedly, APC members and apologists threatened that anyone on the queue, not voting for APC should gently leave the Polling Unit and go back, or else they would wreak havoc and cause mayhem at the scene.
This was the same message MC Oluomo passed in a virile video a couple of days ago.
It was alleged that the thugs began to break bottles as people scampered to safety. The thugs allegedly took custody of the Polling Unit at Eti Osa, directing only those who wanted to vote for the APC to cast their votes.
At Osapa 1 Polling Unit in Eti Osa LG, the Hoodlums and thugs were said to have threatened to kill any Igbo person, saying that they should leave the Polling Unit.
Same was what played out at Abraham Adesanya Area, where the thugs were all out to attack the Igbos.
“We were openly castigated and threatened by the hoodlums. They caused chaos leading to the INEC officials halting the process”, a voter said.
It was the same scenario that played out at Ayo Afolabi in Alimsoho Local Government Area, where the thugs allegedly intimidated the Igbo, saying that anyone that has the mindset to vote the Labour Party, LP, or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP should have a rethink or else the person would be beaten blue black.
An electorate, Ekenne Nsofor, lamented that the APC thugs were violent, and were ready to attack anyone perceived to be Igbo.
“They were just shouting that this is Yoruba land and APC owns Lagos. They began to break bottles and brandishing dangerous weapons sending fear into the spine of the electorates, who were forced to leave the scene.
“It took the courage and the help of the Police who arrived at the scene at the right time forcing them to run away from being arrested.
“This is uncalled for. When will this nonsense stop. Will APC continue to intimidate we the Igbos who has added value to the economy of the State.
“It is really pathetic that the APC is desperate to win by all means. The Igbos aren’t against him as some of the Igbos are strong APC members, why the unnecessary attack on the Igbos. This is uncalled for”.
Arome Solomon also has a sad tale to tell at Adejare Polling Unit in Ilasa, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, as thugs in large numbers stormed Polling Unitdispersing voters who were waiting for officials and Adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission to start voting in the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections.
According to her, INEC officials were nowhere to be found as of 10:12 a.m., leaving many people stranded until thugs from the adjacent street invaded the polling unit with daggers and other sharp objects to disperse them.
“Policemen are also not present. The people have all run away and are not willing to return.
“I was driven out of the area by suspected All Progressives Congress thugs after confirming that I am an agent of the opposition party.
“They seized my phone and checked through it to confirm that I haven’t recorded their activities.
“They also chased away non-indigenes despite registering at many of the polling units threatening to beat them if they resist,” he maintained.
