External Political Thugs Tried To Soil Our Name By Disrupting Electoral Processes – Ikate Elegushi Residents Cries Out

Ikate-Elegushi Community Condemns Electoral Disruption by External Forces

The just-concluded Presidential and NASS general elections were marred by chaos in Ikate-Elegushi community, as external forces disrupted electoral activities at the polling unit.

Residents of the community expressed their dismay and frustration during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Adewale Bakare, a resident of Ikate-Elegushi, expressed his dissatisfaction at the disruption of the voting exercise at the polling unit outside Oba Elegushi palace.

He lamented that external forces unleashed mayhem and intimidated voters, denying them their right to vote.

Bakare noted that the residents of Ikate-Elegushi are peaceful and law-abiding citizens, but they were humiliated by external forces aided by security personnel during the elections.

According to Bakare, government security agencies are meant to secure voters and not intimidate or humiliate citizens while casting their votes.

He alleged that Labour Party supporters influenced security agencies to intimidate and annihilate residents, denying them their voting right.

The Obidient supporters took over the voting units and cast votes for their presidential candidate, Peter Obi, till 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, which he described as an injustice of the highest order.

Bakare added that a lot of strange faces stormed the Ikate area to engage in electoral fraud under the guise of obtaining voter transfer from the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He noted that residents of Elegushi never experienced such electoral malpractice in the history of elections in the community.

“Obedient followers do point at residents and voters to the Nigerian Army, thereby chasing APC members from voting at the polling unit.

“The obedient followers took over the polling unit and voted till 10:00p.m on Saturday, there is no justice, free, fair and credible elections at Ikate community on Saturday.

“The Nigerian Army work against the wish of the electorates by violating electoral laws, Obedient followers are using the Army to intimidate APC voters not to vote at the polling units, “

He said.

Additionally, a citizen named Afolabi Mojeed said he has never experienced a scene where political thugs disrupt electoral process until that day. recounting his experience, he said

“I thought there was a riot starting and I had to flee the scene and he the process, I left my card in the hands of the INEC official. I had to get it after peace and calm was later restored.

“This is basically my 7th election in this community and never have I ever experienced a situation whereby election would be disrupted.

When asked if he knows the face of any of those thugs or if  the thugerry was orchestrated by an Indigene, he said;

“The indigenes of this community are always known for thier peaceful and easy going life style, there is no way they would be involved in such. They are civilized, matured and well exposed than to be involved in such”

Similarly, a youth leader and resident of Ikate, Mr Bisiriyu Sulaimon, said that the disruption that erupted at Ikate polling units was perpetrated by outsiders, people that are not eligible voters at the Ikate polling unit.

Sulaimon denied the allegation that Ikate residents initiated the misconduct of the electioneering process, noting that it was an external attack on the community.

Sulaimon urged the government to look inward and find lasting solutions to this perennial electoral violation act.

The disruption of electoral activities by external forces in Ikate-Elegushi community is a threat to democracy and should be condemned by all.

It is imperative that government security agencies uphold the law and ensure free, fair, and credible elections in all communities.

An eye withness to the scene also gave a