Tension flared at Unit 4, Ward 2, Ilawe-Ekiti, during the Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday, as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) clashed over allegations of vote buying, disrupting the voting process and resulting in injuries. The incident occurred amid heightened political activity in the state as voters cast their ballots to elect a new governor. One ADC supporter sustained a head injury during the confrontation and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
The ADC governorship candidate, Dare Bejide, who cast his vote at the polling unit, accused political actors of attempting to undermine the electoral process through the distribution of cash to influence voters. He claimed that money intended for voters was brought into the area, prompting his supporters to intervene and stop the alleged activity. Bejide alleged that a chieftain of the APC arrived at the scene in a Toyota Jeep, reportedly carrying cash meant for distribution, which escalated the situation into chaos.
According to Bejide, the situation deteriorated further when efforts to intercept the alleged cash led to a heated exchange between party supporters and security operatives. He stated that one of his aides was attacked by security personnel brought in by the APC, adding that the aide had been taken to the hospital for medical attention. Bejide described the incident as a violent disruption of the voting process and emphasized that the presence of cash at the polling unit was reported to security authorities, sparking panic and disorder in the area.
Despite the unrest, Bejide commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials for their professionalism and diligence. He noted that the election had proceeded smoothly before the outbreak of violence. “The electoral personnel have been very diligent, and everything was going on very well before the pandemonium started,” Bejide said. He added that security operatives were redeployed to the area, allowing voting to resume under tight security, although tension remained high at the polling unit.
The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Ekiti State, with calls for thorough investigations into the alleged vote buying and the violence that followed. As the election continues, observers and political stakeholders are urging calm and adherence to the rule of law to ensure a peaceful and credible outcome. The situation underscores the need for robust security and electoral monitoring to safeguard democratic processes in Nigeria.
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