Tension, gunshots disrupt Anambra East council election

Tension, gunshots disrupt Anambra East council electionTension and sporadic gunshots were reported at the headquarters of Anambra East Local Government Area on Saturday as voting was scheduled to take place in the Anambra State local government election.

 

The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, is unchallenged in 20 of the state’s 21 local government areas but faces opposition from the Young Progressives Party, YPP, in Anambra East.

 

Hundreds of residents and party supporters reportedly gathered at the local government headquarters in Otuocha from about 6am to monitor the distribution of election materials.

 

However, the YPP alleged that its agents were initially prevented by security operatives from entering the premises to observe the distribution of the materials.

 

The YPP local government collation agent, Chief Charles Ifediorah, described the process as a “charade” allegedly being manipulated in favour of APGA.

 

Ifediorah said YPP agents from the 241 polling units in the local government had assembled at the headquarters but were denied access to the premises.

 

He said they were later allowed into the compound following the arrival of a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

 

According to him, election materials were subsequently distributed to some wards, including Enugwu Otu, Eziagulu Otu and Nsugbe Ward 1.

 

“It’s a very disappointing moment for the YPP in Anambra East and following this development, we are boycotting the election because the process is already compromised,” he said.

 

Ifediorah also alleged that sporadic gunshots around the council headquarters were intended to intimidate YPP supporters.

 

He claimed that a female YPP member, identified as Ijeoma, sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to hospital for treatment.

 

The YPP agent said the party would pursue the matter, adding that it had zoned its chairmanship ticket to Nsugbe because the area had never produced a local government chairman since the creation of Anambra East.

 

“For the sake of equity, justice and fair play, we want the next local government chairman to come from Nsugbe,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo had, during a campaign rally ahead of the election, urged voters to support APGA, describing a vote for another party as a wasted vote.

 

Soludo said APGA was unchallenged in 20 local government areas, leaving Anambra East as the only council where the party faced opposition.

 

“In 20 LGAs, no party is challenging APGA and proper election will take place only in Anambra East, while others will be affirmation,” the governor said.

 

He attributed the lack of opposition in the other local government areas to APGA’s dominance in the state and its performance in the last governorship election.

 

“Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra and so none of them wanted to waste their time and money. Following my 73 per cent score during the governorship election, other political parties felt there is no need for them to waste their money in the local government election and they ran away,” Soludo said.

 

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, had yet to issue an official statement on the reported disruption in Anambra East as of press time.