The results coming in from various polling units in the Saturday’s governorship election in Enugu State, has so far showed that the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Mbah and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Chijioke Edeoga are leading in their various strongholds across the state.
According to the results seen by our correspondent, Edeoga is having upper hand in Enugu North senatorial district as well as some parts of Enugu East Senatorial District, while Mbah is having heavy wins in Nkanu areas as as some parts of Enugu West senatorial district.
Meanwhile, the Saturday’s governorship and house of Assembly elections witnessed thuggery and voter suppression in some parts of the state.
This is just as security operatives battled to reduce vote buying by a particular political party in some polling units in the state.
Findings by Community Reporters, revealed that incidents of thuggery and voter suppression were mostly prevalent in Enugu East, Enugu South, Enugu North, Uzo-Uwani and Nsukka local government areas.
It was gathered that security operatives swiftly responded to distressed calls by arresting perpetrators in the affected LGAs.
As at the last count, no fewer than 180 thugs, attempting to disrupt voting, were arrested in Nsukka, Isi-Uzo and Enugu North LGAs by security operatives.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the arrest of scores of suspected political thugs in some parts of the state,. particularly, Nsukka.
The Spokesman of NSCDC Enugu State Command, CSC Danny Iwuchukwu, gave the confirmation to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.
Iwuchukwu said that the scores of suspected thugs arrested had been duly handed over to the Nigeria Police within the Nsukka axis.
He said that the arrest was made early in the morning of March 18, the Election Day, after an intelligent tip-off, at a popular hotel in Nsukka, with AK 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, which included: hand axes, clubs and matchets among items recovered from the political thugs.
Governorship candidate of
the Labour Party (LP), Barr Chijioke Edeoga hailed the interventions made by security operatives in preventing voter suppression by some political thugs in some parts of the state.
Edeoga, who hailed the electoral process and conduct by the INEC, condemned the disruption of voting process in some polling units in the state.
He disclosed that at least one LP supporter has been shot by armed thugs.
Speaking with journalists after casting his vote in his Eha-Amufu ward, said there was a localised disruption of the voting process.
He revealed that more than 30 armed thugs were arrested in his Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, noting that the security agencies have been alive to their responsibilities.
His APC counterpart, Chief Uche Nnaji, also described the process as smooth and commended INEC for its level of preparedness.
He said : “The exercise is working quite well , this time around it would not be business as usual, this is the first time in Enugu that there is a real contest, this is the first time since its creation as a party that the APC is keenly contesting all elections in Enugu and this time around should the votes count we are likely to win, because this is the first time , Ndi Enugu at the grassroots are interested in who governs them and God willing it I will emerge as governor”
