The rerun-election which held in many wards in Karu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Wednesday was marred with open irregularities.
This is according to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Phillip Aduda [above].
Aduda, former Senate Committee Chairman on FCT alleged that some senior members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) masterminded the open irregularities.
INEC had earlier declared the election in some parts of FCT inconclusive, alluding to irregularities as reason.
Aduda was addressing Senate correspondents on the outcome of Wednesday’s rerun election in Karu.
He said some hoodlums moved round to disrupt the peace that had seasoned the process of the election.
That in turn prevented voters from exercising their rights.
He said the hoodlums took over some of the voting units in the area by destroying voting materials.
Others, however, were shooting sporadically to scare away voters from voting arenas.
He said in IBTS polling units for instance, “APC officials brought thugs who disrupted voting process as well as voting materials.
“This happened earlier in the day when voting started.
He added, “Concerned people protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The officials made available fresh voting materials.
“The thugs still went there and destroyed everything.
“I can tell you that senior government officials were seen physically directing the tugs to destroy voting materials.
“Their resolve was to frustrate the plans by INEC to have peaceful election in the area.
“The most painful part of it is that we have never recorded any form of violence in FCT in the history of elections in Nigeria.
“It is regrettable that some people are bent on introducing just that”
Aduda, however, urged the voters in Karu to be calm and law abiding.
He stated that they should all take whatever happened as a setback which is temporary.
Although, some people may attempt to infuriate us, yet we must not allow them.
—
© Copyright 2015 www.elombah.com. Send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter handle @Elombah; like our Facebook page: “Elombah.com”