Suspected party agents disrupt voting, police flee in A’Ibom

Voting in Unit 1 ward 10, Ikot Ebom Primary School, Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, has been reportedly halted following a crisis that erupted among the party agents.

Voters were seen scampering for safety while members of the National Youth Service Corps, deployed as ad-hoc staff for the exercise, packed the election materials and stood in a corner waiting for the next line of action.

A female police officer, who was attached to the unit, escaped from the fracas on a motorcycle, leaving the voters to their fate.

It was gathered that trouble started when agents of the Peoples Democratic Party in the unit allowed PDP supporters to vote but stopped those believed to be supporters of other parties from voting.

A voter, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment, explained that some voters in queue insisted on voting for the candidate of their choice but were not allowed.

In an attempt to fight back, the suspected PDP thugs allegedly overpowered the voters thereby causing pandemonium in the unit.

Meanwhile, the policewomen, who escaped on a motorcycle came back with some of her colleagues. The police officers released several canisters of teargas on the voters who dispersed to their various homes.

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