Vote Buying, Intimidation Rock Anambra Bye-Election

By Praise Chinecherem

There were recorded cases of vote buying in some polling units in Onitsha North one on Saturday’s bye-election in Anambra state.

There were also cases of harassment and intimidation on voters by suspected thugs who storm the voting area with motorcycles

The ruling party has been fingered to be behind the harassment and monetary inducement.

Our correspondent reports that voters received as much as N10,000 to induce them into voting for candidate against their choice.

A voter who preferred anonymity said, “They don’t want the woman to get a single vote. The party agents pay as much as N10,000.”

There was, however no record of casualties as at time of filling the report.

The party agent for Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Sylvester Mozie, said that the election was going on smoothly.

He noted that there was no case of any violence or card failure on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On her part, the Presiding Officer in ward 3, Ms Ngozi Ugwuegbu, said she arrived at the polling centre by 8 a.m. and the process was going on smoothly.