ELECTORAL VIOLENCE: Arise TV crew of Journalists attacked at Elegushi Palace, Lagos

*Voters sent back home with canes by party agents at polling units

*As more reports of intimidation recorded in Lagos on Saturday

*Police looked helpless as we were pelted with stones, bottles – Lawyer

*Elections not worth a viikebce – Sanwo-Olu

*Elections postponed at VGC

By KEMI KASUMU

Report reaching us has it that a crew of the Arise News, a Nigeria-based global television network, has been attacked with the cameraman left with blood stain in his face, at the palace of Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, while on election coverage duty on Saturday.

Also, some party agents said to be working for All Progressives Congress (APC) were seen on eyewitness video to be wielding canes at polling units in Ejigbo area of the state chasing people away from exercising their franchising except they knew that they were going to vote for “APC”.

In the meantime, Some voters at some polling units in Ikorodu, VGC and pars of Lekki, Lagos have sent out unsatisfactory reports either of INEC officials already announcing to voters that they were not going to transmit results electronically or INEC officials refusing to use the polling units inside the VGC as they said the over 1,000 voters inside the gigantic estate to come out on the express side to vote, which was causing issues as at the time of filing this report.

The situation in VGC was tense as INEC officials were believed to have been compromised, despite huge assurances by INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and for the reason election in the polling unit has been postponed to Sunday.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, announced that the election in VGC will hold tomorrow Sunday March 19, 2023 from 8.:30am to 2.:30pm.

Due to resistance by voters of INEC officials’ attempt to move them to electoral violence-prone area outside of the VGC, the REC has said that the polling units of the large estate will remain at the original location (eigth in VGC Park and two in Commercial Area).

The register and attendance for each polling units will be maintained while new number tags will be issued tomorrow, the VGCPORA said.

A lawyer from a polling unit in Osapa London, Lekki said, “Election was marred by intimidation and violence. The thugs made sure that it was disrupted when it was going in favour of Labour party. I was pelted with stones, bottles, sand and all.

“Unfortunately, the local traditional ruler instigated the violence. I have taken refuge in a safe place for now. We were prevented from taking pictures. Most unfortunate!

“Fortunately, I asked my wife to leave 10 minutes before it all started. The police were behaving as if they were helpless,” he expressed disappointment.

Also at Chief Bright Oridami Street, Off St. Fimbarrs College Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, cases of APC thugs in Keke Marwa stormed the area.

One of the disenfranchised voters, who took them on video from afar, explained: “Some guys came saying that ‘This is Lagos o. If you want to vote for Labour Party or PDP, go to your state.’ You can see them in the video that they came with canes chasing those that want to vote for other parties other than APC. You can hear them saying if Labour Party wins this polling unit, everyone here is going to hear from them.”

According to what was seen happen in the video, after beating and chasing a voter away, they drove off in one keke, one okada and move to vowed to go to the next polling unit.

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the people should calm down as the elections are worth not a violence.

Details later…