The Anambra South senatorial by-election descended into chaos on Saturday as violent clashes erupted at multiple polling stations, disrupting the electoral process and raising concerns about the safety of voters and election officials.
The election, aimed at filling the vacant senatorial seat, was marred by reports of ballot box snatching, voter intimidation, and sporadic gunfire, casting a shadow over the democratic exercise.
According to eyewitnesses, the unrest began in the early hours of voting when suspected political thugs stormed polling units in communities across Nnewi, Ekwulobia, and Aguata.
Sources reported that armed individuals disrupted the accreditation process, carting away ballot boxes and threatening election officials.
In one incident in Ekwulobia, gunmen reportedly fired shots into the air, causing voters to flee in panic.
“It was terrifying. People were running for their lives, and the whole process just stopped,” said Chukwuma Okeke, a local trader who witnessed the disruption.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed irregularities in at least 19 polling stations, with reports of stolen electoral materials and compromised voter registers.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, condemned the violence, stating, “We are working with security agencies to restore calm and ensure that the process continues where possible. This level of disruption is unacceptable and undermines the democratic will of the people.”
Security forces, including the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed to quell the disturbances, but their response was reportedly slow in some areas.
A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence, with investigations ongoing to identify the masterminds behind the attacks.
“We are treating this as a coordinated attempt to sabotage the election,” the official said.
The by-election, necessitated by the resignation of the former senator to take up a ministerial position, has been a contentious race, with major candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) vying for the seat.
As of press time, INEC is yet to announce whether the election will be rescheduled in the affected areas or if results from less-disrupted polling units will be collated.
The commission has promised a full investigation into the incidents, while security agencies have vowed to bring perpetrators to justice.
The people of Anambra South now await clarity on the path forward, as the specter of violence threatens to undermine their right to choose their representative in Nigeria’s Senate.
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