By Mike Ebonugwo, Jude Njoku, Jimitota Onoyume, Samuel Oyadongha, Gabriel Enogholase & Suzan Edeh
IT is three days to the governorship and state assembly elections. As expected, the election fever is on the rise across the country as politicians, especially contestants in the elections, intensify their campaigns to attract and garner last minute endorsement from the electorate. As political parties and contestants make frenzied efforts to outdo their opponents and rivals before the April 11, 2015 elections, expectations are high that victory could be around the corner.
But one question most of them have failed or refused to ask is: Would the Nigerian electorate come out in their numbers to vote on April 11 given the spate of violence that almost marred the presidential and national assembly elections on March 28. Feelers from states affected by violence during that election seem to suggest many are already apprehensive of a repeat occurrence of violence which claimed lives in some states.
Among the states identified as possible flash points based on this and other recent disturbing developments are Rivers, Edo, Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti and Lagos. Indeed investigations suggest that with the possible exception of a few states, many Nigerians across the country are very worried over the fight-to-finish posture adopted by some contestants in the leading political parties of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC as the election day draws near.
The fear in some quarters is that this could translate to voters apathy, with many preferring to err on the side of caution by staying at home rather than risk life and limb by coming out to vote. Reports across the country have it that the fear of intimidation and molestation by political thugs has become palpable among the populace.
Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, may have anticipated this scenario when he recently appealed to the electorate to forget the violence that took place in the state during and after the March 28 elections and come out to vote on April11, assuring them of adequate security. “On Saturday I expect everybody to come out and vote. There will be no police molestation again; there will be no army harassment again…”. It was not clear if the average Rivers electorate was impressed by the Governor’s assurance.
The die is cast in Lagos
The political temperature of Lagos rose weekend when the custodian of the traditional institution in the State, Oba Rilwan Akiolu stirred the hornet’s nest by insisting that Igbos must either vote for his preferred candidate or perish in the lagoon. Although his palace has come out to deny the report, those who watched the video and audio clips of the Oba’s outburst, see it as a futile damage control.
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A journalist of Igbo extraction jokingly asked his colleague whether he has learnt how to swim because the Igbos who developed cold feet after their preferred candidate lost the presidential election, are now prepared to vote against the monarch’s preferred candidate.
Indeed, Lagos presents an interesting scenario because none of the two leading candidates can claim to be home and dry yet. A mistake or unguarded utterance may therefore swell greater support for the opponent.
The statement credited to the Oba, some pundits say, may scare Igbo voters away from exercising their franchise, while others claim it will spur them to come out in droves to cast their votes. Whatever happens will be seen on Saturday when Lagosians troop out to vote for Babatunde Raji Fashola’s successor.
Port Harcourt: Political killings scare voters
Apparently jolted by the numerous alleged political killings in Rivers State, some eligible voters in the state say they would prefer to remain indoors on Saturday when the governorship and House of Assembly elections are billed to hold across the country.
Vanguard Features, VF, checks show that no fewer than 15 persons were shot dead at different points in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area by suspected political thugs, a development that further heightened the tension and fear.
The most pathetic of these killings took place in Obrikom community where unknown assailants killed Chief Christopher Adube, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, three of his children and five others at his residence.
VF recalls that during the last Presidential and National Assembly election, about six persons were shot dead at different locations in the state by suspected political thugs. Among them was a soldier who was killed around Whimpy junction area of the state.
VF investigations further revealed that parents have begun to warn their children to stay indoors on the election day. “ I am afraid because of the number of deaths recorded during the presidential election and the politically- motivated killings that we have seen after the last elections in the state. I had to tell my family members to remain indoors on Saturday,” a man who simply identified himself as Sylvanus said.
Also trying to escape an imminent danger, Emeka who runs a small boutique in Mile One, said he would travel with his newly wedded wife on Friday. He said he was disturbed by the proliferation of illegal fire arms among youths in several parts of Port Harcourt.
“The other day, there was fracas between members of the APC and PDP in this Diobu. I heard a young boy on phone saying they should bring him two AK at night because they were set for war. Quietly I relocated to another place to pass the night with my wife,” he said.
Some other residents who spoke to VF said their relatives residing outside the state call them almost daily because of stories of killings from Port Harcourt. “ I get calls on daily basis from my relatives in Lagos who are worried about the killings in Port Harcourt. We are from Rivers State but my brothers said they are not happy with the stories of violence coming out of the state regularly,” Nonso said.
A taxi driver, who identified himself as Olayinka said he would not come out a day after Saturday’s election because, according to him, tension could still be in the air.
Need for increased security presence
The President of Kalabari Youth Federation, Mr Livingston Memberi called for more security presence on the election day in Asari Toru Local Government Area for residents to have a peaceful election exercise.
According to him, there was heavy shooting and snatching of ballot boxes in the last elections in the area.
Livingston who monitored the last Presidential and National Assembly election in the local government on the platform of Reclaim Niger said he over heard some youths in Buguma, headquarters of the local government saying that the last time bullets were shot into the air but this Saturday it may be directed at political opponents.
“I fear that their might be violence in Asari Toru local government during the governorship election. So to avoid it there should be heavy security presence to save the situation,” he said.
In spite of the fear of violence, chieftains of the major political parties, the APC and the PDP have continued to appeal to their supporters to come out to vote, expressing hope that the exercise would be peaceful.
Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Hosea Kamar, also enjoined residents to feel free to come out to vote for candidates of their choice, assuring that the Police would be on ground to guarantee adequate security of lives and property.
Crestfallen voters in Bayelsa
Fears that Bayelsa, home state of President Goodluck Jonathan and by extension the oil rich Niger Delta would be plunged in violence if the result of the presidential polls does not favour the incumbent president has turned out to be unfounded.
Surprisingly, the state, regarded as one of the flashpoints of the Delta during elections, has been an “oasis of peace” in spite of statements credited to some ex- militants that anything short of a Jonathan victory could spell doom for the nation. However, the voters are crestfallen following the loss of their son. How this play out will be seen on Saturday when the Governorship and House of Assembly elections will be held in the state.
Electorate vow to resist intimidation
The Presidential/National Assembly elections in Edo State may have come and gone, but its ripple effects on the polity have continued. In the results of the elections so far declared by INEC, the PDP won one senatorial seat and five of the nine House of Representatives seats while the APC won one senatorial and three House of Representatives seats. The Edo South Senatorial seat and House of Representatives seat are yet to be declared due to the suspension of elections in Orhionmwon Local Government. The election would hold this weekend in the area along with the State House of Assembly elections.
Against this backdrop, pundits are asking what would be the outcome of the elections in the state this weekend?
Fears are already rife that the elections may not be free, fair and violence-free judging by statements credited to some politicians in the state.
It would be recalled that during the March 28, 2015 Presidential/National Assembly elections, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole alleged that some soldiers got an illegal order from their Commander to lay siege on his home town of Iyamho. He further alleged that reporters were forced to sit on the ground, alongside their police escort for several hours. They were later allowed to leave after they got calls from their superiors.
A man was allegedly killed in Obagie in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area during the election. In a related development, tension has enveloped Orhionmwon Local Government Area over the suspension of the National Assembly elections by INEC.
Participation of voters
Feelers from Etsako-West Local Government indicate that in spite the alleged deployment of soldiers to the area, they will come out in their numbers to exercise their civic responsibility.
A journalist from the area who pleaded anonymity said: “Our people are fully mobilised to ensure that they vote in this weekend’s election despite what happened in the last election. We will not allow that incident to disfranchise us. We need security during the election, but that must be done in such a way that the electorate are not harmed or deprived of their civic rights.” Eligible voters in Ikpoba/Okha and Orhionmwon council areas have also vowed to vote during the election, insisting that no intimidation or threat would stop them.
For instance in Orhionmwon where the National Assembly election was suspended, youths who staged a protest at INEC office in Benin on Tuesday, said the elections would be free of violence. Speaking through their spokesman who simply identified himself as Ozakpolo, the youths pledged to use their PVCs to elect those who will bring development to the area.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has warned that it would not entertain any form of thuggery. The Command advised politicians to abide by the rules of the game.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Edoigiawerei, gave the warning in Benin amidst speculations that politicians are arming their thugs with a view to causing mayhem during the election.
Bauchi: Lapse in security may affect turnout of voters
The conduct of the election particularly in the North-East was marred by violence, a development that has sent a wrong signal to electorates who are supposed to participate in the April 11 Governorship and State House of Assembly election.
In Bauchi State, for instance, the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly election was marred by activities of insurgents in three local government areas of Alkeleri, Darazo and Kirfi. According reports, gunmen attacked polling units in the areas, burnt election materials and set ablaze police stations.
The Bauchi State Police Public Relation Officer, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the attack said the gunmen came in a convoy of ten vehicles and destroyed many electoral materials in the polling units. They were however repelled and pursued towards Dindima Town along Bauchi Gombe Road by security personnel.
Due to the security challenges in the areas, the Bauchi State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas to prevent any loss of lives and properties.
With the security situation still hanging in the balance in some of these areas, some residents in the state have expressed fears about the forthcoming gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold on April, 11.
Some of them who spoke to VF said they do not trust the security agents to protect them, hence they may not come out to cast their votes during the election. According to them, most of the polling units lack adequate security presence, hence they may become targets for insurgents’ attack.
Musa Mainoma, a farmer who resides in Yelwa, a suburb of Bauchi informed VF that his younger brother and members of his family who lived in Alkeleri, almost lost their lives when gunmen stormed the polling units where they voted.
“My brother said he thought that they were security agents who were guarding the area until they started shooting sporadically. Because of my brother’s experience, I don’t think I will vote during the gubernatorial election. Nobody knows what these people are planning and where they are targeting this time around,” he said.
An official of the NYSC in Bauchi State, Walbe, said he may not participate in Saturday’s election because of the negative experience he had while working for INEC.
“I was posted to Alkeleri Local Government to monitor some corps members who were recruited as INEC adhoc staff in the area. Prior to the attack, we received information that insurgents were coming to the area. I told the corps members about the information I received, but they ignored it,” he said, adding that he had barely left the polling unit with some corps members when the insurgents struck.
Relics of invasion by Fulani herdsmen lead to voters apathy
There is heightened tensions in Benue State, especially in areas that hitherto came under heavy attacks from suspected Fulani herdsmen. The crisis which displaced many families and left some dead and maimed, has became a topical issue in most pasts of the state ahead of the coming elections.
The reason for this may not be far-fetched. A tour of the ravaged areas in parts of Guma, Agatu and Logo local government areas, shows a vivid picture of a people who are completely disillusioned by their tragic situation.
The relics of the unending invasion still dot the landscape of the besieged communities and the expression on the faces of the people clearly shows the psychological torture and pains the people are subjected to. From the young and old, male and female, the people wore pained expression, just as they feel dejected and abandoned.
It was also gathered that many of the people in these areas could not exercise their franchise at the last presidential and national assembly elections because many could not be captured in the registration exercise conducted by INEC in the state.
Besides, those who were lucky to be registered by the electoral body showed apathy to the process and the situation might not be different in the forthcoming polls.
This accounted for the poor turnout of voters in those areas, unlike what obtained in the past.
VF also discovered that many of the displaced are still taking refuge in makeshift camps in Daudu, Guma local government area, just as many have sought safe haven in homes of relatives in neighboring villages.
One of the survivors of the crisis at Ukpam, in Guma local government area, Pa James Ikpa, 68, said the people were not interest in the elections because they are yet to overcome the trauma of the last Fulani massacre in the community.
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