Panic, as thugs hijack ballot box in Ondo bye-election

Some hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have disrupted the ongoing Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West federal constituency bye-election of Unit 5, Ward 13 in Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, area of Ondo State.

Eyewitnesses told journalists that the attack by the hoodlums caused panic with many voters taking to their heels.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity said that the attack occured just before noon after not less than 63 people had cast their votes.

He explained that the hoodlums caused some commotion while security personnel at the polling unit were trying to restore peace and order, one of them snatched the ballot box and fled the scene.

The eyewitness said that though the hoodlums made away with the ballot box, the result sheet, BVAS machine and other materials were not taken.

It was gathered that 407 voters were registered at the polling unit for the election.

Meanwhile, INEC has lauded the turnout of voters in the ongoing bye-election in the state.

The National Commissioner supervising Osun, Ogun and Ondo States, Kunle Ajayi, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen at Okeagbe in Akoko North-West LGA, after monitoring election.

Ajayi said; “From what we have observed since morning, the election is going on peacefully, and the turnout is impressive, no violence, no vote buying anywhere.

“So, we have not recorded any terrible incident since the start of the election and by grace of God everything will end peacefully

“Everywhere we have been to, there was no report of challenges with the BVAS machine or cases of it malfunctioning.”

Commenting on the incident of ballot box snatching at the Unit 5,Ward 13, Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, the National Commissioner said that the situation had been restored to normalcy.

“Is normal that miscreants will remain miscreants, they attempted to disturb the election there but the police over powered them and we have restored everything to order and no other incident apart from that one,” he said.