Sen. Lere Oyewumi, a chieftain of the Accord Party in Osun, on Saturday alleged election in some polling units in his ward in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, were disrupted by suspected political thugs.
He made the allegation after casting his vote at polling Unit, Unit 9, Ward 1, SS Peter and Paul, Sunmoye Primary School, Ikire.
Oyewumi, who is also the Director-General of Gov. Ademola Campaign Council, said voters were chased away at polling units where Accord Party is favoured to win.
“This morning, people were out as early as 8.00a.m, I was so happy about the turnout.
“More than 100 people were already at the polling unit by 8.00a.m; but just immediately voting start around 8.30a.m, problem started,” he said.
He alleged that voting in Ward 1, at Orieru polling unit, was disrupted by a gang of thugs led by one notorious member of the town.
He said the thugs, armed with weapons, beat up party agents and chased people voters.
He said the same thugs also went to St. Joseph 1 and 2 polling unit within the ward and disrupted election.
“I had to go there, and told the people to come back, that they should continued their voting,” he said.
He said the thugs later left for Ward 6 and also disrupted voting at Alaha Polling units and the polling units at Baptist Primary School.
He said though he is satisfied with the conduct of the election by INEC, but the inability of security agents to stop the free movements of armed suspected thugs is very worrisome.
However, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dotun Babayemi, who spoke with journalists, said the election was free, fair and devoid of violence in his ward.
“The election is going very well. Things went smoothly.
“The few places where we had challenges were the places were the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) stopped working in two units in Ward 4, but it was escalated and resolved.
“There is no report of violence or fighting because we understand in this community that we are one family, irrespective of political differences.
“We are confident that our party, the APC and its candidate will be voted in massively in this local government,” he said. (NAN)
