In a disturbing turn of events, hoodlums have reportedly launched an invasion of polling units in Sagbama local Government area of Bayelsa State.
The attackers engaged in heavy gunfire and hijacked election materials, disrupting the electoral process.
The incident occurred at approximately 9 am at Agorogbene, specifically at units 6, 7, and 8 in Ward 11 of the Local Government. Suspected thugs from Southern Ijaw, allegedly accompanied by a certain politician, reportedly chased away voters and destroyed election materials.
The armed men responded to any attempts by the electorate to challenge them with heavy gunfire.
Around the same time, armed thugs stormed the RAC ,Registration Area Centre, center, making off with election materials intended for five out of the seven units in the area.
The alleged involvement of a ward 11 leader from one of the political parties added another layer of complexity to the situation.
In a separate incident at Ogiadiama Ward 9 in Unit 14 of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area, gunmen attempted to storm the unit but were repelled after an emergency call to security personnel.
The governorship race in Bayelsa is primarily between Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party, seeking re-election, and fifteen other candidates, including Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress and Udengs Eradiri of the Labour Party, who is also a youth leader from the state.
The reported acts of violence and disruption pose a serious challenge to the conduct of a free and fair election in the region.
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