Onitsha, Anambra State – Dem don hold bye-election for Onitsha North 1 and Anambra South Senatorial district on Saturday, but e no come easy as wahala dey everywhere. Electoral materials come late like dem dey find hard to locate the polling units (Na who even send dem?). Voting materials no reach most polling stations until around 10 to 12 noon, far from the 9am when people dey ready to cast their votes.
Meanwhile, political parties like All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressive Party (YPP) dey throw shade for each other, as allegations of vote buying fly anyhow. Some voters collect small money, ranging from N3,000 to N20,000 for their vote, fit usually be N5,000 to N10,000 for dem wey dey vote in Anambra South (Kai! Money dey sweet).
Ifeoma Azikiwe, the APGA candidate for Onitsha North 1, wey don cast her vote around 9.30am, gree say everything dey peaceful and she dey hopeful of victory. Yet, everywhere no too dey ok as Governor Chukwuma Soludo, wey also cast his vote, talk say APC governorship candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu and him boys don dey beat people (Na wah!). Dem wan disrupt the voting process with thuggery.
Soludo dey vex as he dey wonder wetin concern APC for other people polling units. “I just fulfill my civic duty by casting my vote for today’s bye-election. INEC and all stakeholders deserve commendation for making this process smooth and peaceful,” he yarn.
As if that one no bad, for Kaduna State, ADC and SDP don dey accuse APC of sending at least 4,000 thugs to make sure say dem disrupt the elections for some constituencies (Why dem no fit allow peace rain?).
Reports dey come from different states say tension dey high ahead of the bye-elections with accusations of sabotage as political parties dey prepare for battle. This contest no be small matter, as e fit determine who gogo win for the main 2027 elections.
With 16 constituencies across 12 states dey hot, na about 3.5million voters dey set to mark their ballots (make dem no forget to collect their money o!). INEC don enlist 30,451 ad-hoc staff to help with the process, as dem don deploy sensitive election materials to avoid any funny business.
”Let the votes count. Let the people decide. Na true test of democracy,” David Mark, national chairman of ADC, dey shout as he urge INEC to do the right thing. As we dey watch, we no sabi wetin go happen, but one thing we sabi be say, this isn’t going to be the last time we go see such political drama.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
