Bloodshed In Seven States Polling Station 16 Confirm Dead

In yesterday’s elections, violence rocked at least seven states across the country leading to 16 deaths.

Five persons were feared killed in Benue; four in Kebbi; two, each, in Rivers and Lagos; and one, each, in Plateau, Bauchi and Ebonyi.

President Goodluck Jonathan blamed the low turnout in his native Bayelsa on the non-holding of the gubernatorial election in the state.

Only the House of Assembly election took place in the state.

The European Union Chief Observer to the elections, Santiago Fisas, also lament the poor voter turnout at the polls.

As the results of the elections began to trickle in, last night, reports said Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti won 25 of the 26 legislative seats in the state assembly for his party, the PDP, leaving one seat for Labour Party (LP).

Only the legislative election held in Ekiti.

Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Amaechi faulted the conduct of the elections in Rivers State, describing it as a sham.

He also alleged that his phone number was claimed by some people to send text messages to APC supporters to ask them to ask to boycott the polls, saying it was a ploy to give advantage to the PDP in the elections.

The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wiki, immediately countered Amaechi, saying all was well with the polls in the state.

Benue:  monarch, four others killed

In Benue State, the district head of Utange in Ushongo local government area, Zaki Joseph Kumbur, and four others were reported to have been killed, before and during the elections apparently marred by low turnout of voters.

This came just as INEC offices in Tarka and Ushongo local government areas were said to have been attacked by suspected hoodlums who also snatched ballot boxes in several polling units around Makurdi, the state capital, and in parts of the state in the wave of crisis and violence that affected the polls in the state.

The breakdown of the reported killings showed that two persons were shot dead in Zaki-Biam in Ukum local government area, one gunned down at the North Bank area of Makurdi  and another killed in Gwer local government area.

“A young man, who was a kingpin in North Bank, also popularly known as ‘Almighty’, was shot in the head following disagreement with members of his gang over sharing of money”, a source said.

“In Zaki-Biam, there was sporadic shooting in the main town on the eve of the election. Two persons were discovered dead today (Saturday).

“In Gwer, a medical practitioner (names withheld) was reported to have been arrested over the alleged killing of a voter who he allegedly stabbed to death after a heated argument.”

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the Utange district head, Kumbur, was killed, Friday night in his residence by unknown armed men who stormed the place in a commando fashion.

“His death may not be unconnected with the wave of political disagreements that have characterized elections in that part of the state”, said our source.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ozi Obih said, the Zaki-Biam incident was a political stampede while the North Bank shooting was as a result of disagreement among friends but added that he was yet to get the confirmation of deaths.