Thugs attach INEC centre in Abeokuta, ten injured

Pandemonium broke, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when thugs invaded a centre of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Oke-Efon in Abeokuta North local government area of the state, leaving no fewer than ten persons seriously injured.

An eyewitness said the suspected thugs, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, stormed the CVR centre located at the St. Mary African Church Primary School, Oke-Efon, Abeokuta at about 10:00am and allegedly attacked residents already on the queue and
being attended to by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was gathered that INEC officials and a policewoman attached to the centre immediately took to their heels during the melee.
The hoodlums were alleged to have dispossessed residents caught in the violence of their mobile phones and cash.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, described the incident as skirmish, saying the situation had been brought under control.

Meanwhile, a coalition of non-governmental organisations in Ogun and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, yesterday, said the development had shown that INEC was not prepared for the general elections in 2015.
The two groups decried the shortcomings of the Commission over the on-going distribution of Permanent Voter Card, (PVC) in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held in Abeokuta, Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the lapses during the distribution exercise had shown that the electoral body was not prepared to conduct the 2015 polls.