CITIZENS COMPASS— The Governorship election in Owerre Ezukala community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State reportedly ended on a sad note yesterday, when a councillor was shot dead.
According to Daily Post, eyewitnesses’ accounts said the councillor was killed at Owerre Ezukala Ward 1 while trying to cast his vote.
A resident identified as Iyke Orji said, “While voting in Owerre Ezukala Ward 1, unknown gunmen came in and shot a top person and left. The councillor of Owerre Ezukala was fatally shot by the men.”
However, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said there was no official report of the incident before him.
He stated, “In fact, the state has been peaceful all along, and the atmosphere calm. There is no incident of violence in the state that I’m aware of at least for now.”
Meanwhile, the Obidient Movement has raised concerns over what it described as widespread monetisation in the election. The group alleged that money was being used to influence voters across the state.
Speaking to journalists, the National Coordinator of the movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the group had stationed members in 176,000 polling units nationwide to observe and record irregularities as they occurred.
Tanko expressed worry that vote buying continues to threaten the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
He said, “We have seen a disturbing pattern where money is being used to sway voters’ choices. This trend weakens democracy and must be addressed urgently.”
—Daily Post
