Explosions, Tension Shake Enugu LG Polls
BY RAPHAEL ONYEKACHUKWU, ENUGU – As Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) prepares to announce results of the State local government election held on Saturday, November 4, 2017, some residents of the State are still counting their losses following the explosions and tension that almost marred the exercise.
The air was fouled by fear and anxiety in some parts of the State as residents of Coal camp in Enugu North Council area woke up to the sound an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that exploded at Ogbette West Ward 6, in Coal Camp area of Enugu North Council Area at about 7.55 am.
Reports also said that other IEDs went off at Obeagu-Awkunanaw in Enugu South Council Area of the state and Broderick Primary School used as venues for the councils’ polls around 8.25 am.
Forefront correspondent, who monitored the polls, said the blast at Broderick School’s gate, sent early voters and passers-by scampering in different directions with three (3) people reportedly injured in the process. Besides shattering a Mercedes Benz v-boot car, the explosion destroyed a shop located around the area with five vehicles similarly destroyed at Obeagu area.
According to reports, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danmallam and Director of the State Security Services were however on hand to ascertain the situation of things. Even as they called on citizens in the State to remain calm as the situation was under control.
Also, the police spokesperson, SP Ebere Amaraizu told journalists that the Command was on top of the situation and investigation has already commenced to identify the immediate and remote cause of the incident.
In another reaction, the Enugu Police Command said three persons have been arrested in connection with the Obeagu explosion, while investigation has reached advanced stage concerning the Coal Camp incident
However, our correspondent noticed that despite the few ugly incidents, the polls held smoothly in most local government areas though some sensitive materials arrived very late at many voting centres.
In the Enugu North Senatoral zone, the election was largely peaceful, particularly in the wards within Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s local government area.
The governor, who voted at his Orba Ward 1, said the peaceful nature of the election showed that democracy is on course in the state and urged supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to turn out en-masse to vote and protect their votes.
But this situation was slightly different at the former governor, Mr Sullivan Chime’s Udi local government. Chime, who voted at his Udi ward, regretted that result sheets were not available at the polling station and described the exercise as a sham.
He lamented that the PDP members are still used to conducting election in the old order of rigging, adding that things have got to change.
On the alleged killings of some All Progressives Congress (APC) members, Chime said it was condemnable in all ramifications even as he called for the cancellation of the exercise because it was marred by irregularities.
Chime, who alleged that the ruling PDP in the State was using thugs to harass voters, said; “We have gone back to the primitive days. The sensitive materials were not there and even some impersonators came around the polling unit where I voted,”
But at Oji River Council area, the elections was marred by violence as things turned sour when two persons were allegedly shot by policemen attached to the State Police Commissioner, Danmallam.
An APC chieftain, Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu told newsmen that when result sheets were not produced at the local government secretariat for the election, his party supporters protested and some policemen in the Commissioner’s entourage shot at their members, adding that the ensuing fracas caused most of the voters to disperse until mid-afternoon when results sheets were finally brought.
The police however refuted the reports in a statement by the PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu and dismissed the alleged shooting as mere rumour.
According to Amaraizu, some electoral officials and materials were held hostage by a group of persons, who insisted there would be no election in the area and even threatened to burn down the Secretariat complex should election go on.
He said the ugly situation lasted until the Police Commissioner arrived with his entourage in continuation of their tour of polling station and booths to monitor security situation, adding that the matter was thereafter professionally handled by the Police.
The statement said with the crowd dispersed, the police restored normalcy to the area and all electoral materials were distributed for voting to commence.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has lauded ENSIEC for conducting a smooth and peaceful Local Government Elections in Enugu State, despite what it described as spirited attempts by some unscrupulous elements to derail the exercise.
NANS’ National President, Chinonso Obasi, told journalists that the body was satisfied with the polls’ conduct and praised the State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for providing an environment that was conducive for the electorate to perform their constitutional duty.
He said despite complaints by some parties over alleged late arrival of election materials, NANS’ team was happy with what it observed going round some of the polling units within the state.
