Hoodlums Disrupt Election, Snatch Ballot Boxes In Edo North #EdoDecides2016

Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Wednesday snatched ballot boxes and disrupted the gubernatorial election process in some remote community in the northern parts of Edo State.


A source who voted in the area confirmed that the thugs made away with a Card Reader at Ibilo in Akoko Edo Area of the state and threatened to deal with some electorates who challenged them in the process of the criminal act.

The source added that some other set of thugs also disrupted the exercise at Ward 05 in Sabongari Ora area at Owan West of the state.

These hoodlums armed with weapons catered away some ballot boxes and ran into the bush.

It was gathered that there was also substantial disruption of the electoral process and snatching of electoral materials at Polling Unit 12 Ward 01 at Uyiosa Primary School in Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State.

The Wednesday gubernatorial election which began early with a massive turnout of voters witnessed "financial inducement" as agents of the major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) were sighted distributing money to electorates to buy votes.

The election was monitored by security agencies who provided watertight security both on the mainland and in the waterways in the state.

The candidate of the PDP, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the candidate of the APC, Godwin Obasaki had earlier expressed satisfaction at the smooth conduct of the poll.

Members and Supporters of the two leading political parties have been spreading fake results from the polling units and Local Government Areas of the state thereby causing tension and confusion in both camps.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked residents of Edo state to disregard results of the Governorship election being circulated on the social media.

"It has come to the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that some persons, especially on Social Media, have started publishing results of the Edo Governorship Election.

"Such result should be disregarded as only INEC, or its designated officials can do so," the electoral body said in a terse statement released to reporters in Benin City.

More news to come from the situation room.