The crisis has begun to brew in Lagos State at the ongoing 2023 Governorship and State Assembly as political thugs allegedly loyal to the All Progressive Congress (APC), have been alleged of intimidating, harassing and chasing electorates perceived as not voting for APC out of the polling units.
In some video clips circulating on social media, some thugs were seen asking voters who are not voting for APC to go back to their different homes, adding that failure to heed their advice would be vehemently resisted.
The thugs were going from one polling unit to the other, shouting that anyone who is not voting for APC should leave the polling units or else, they would be forcefully chase you out.
However, failure of security operatives to provide much-needed security during the election, voters and residents of Ago Palace, Okota Startimes Estate, have resorted to self-help by killing one of the thugs disrupting the election.
APC thugs invaded an Igbo-dominated area of Muyibi in Ajegunle, Lagos and destroyed the ballot boxes as well as casting already thump printed ballot papers into ditches filled with water. The voters brought out the ballot papers from the ditches and spread them for the sun to dry them.
Among those chased out of the polling units was the Nollywood Actress Chioma Akpotha.
Chioma confirmed this development as she stated that she was attacked by APC thugs at her polling unit in Lagos.
The lady explained, “I am driving now. I have to run out. They destroyed my side mirrors and hit my car. I don’t even know the extent they damaged my car but I just ran out for my life because they were bringing out knives. They wanted to stab me and all of that. Thank God I came with some people to help me. I am going to where the army is to tell them. I am tired of these things. I don’t even know what to say. What happened to the free and fair election that they promised us? Nothing is free and fair. Why are you intimidating people?
Another victim, a lady identified as Akwaugo Chinaza, said, “I am presently at my house now. We were chased out of the polling unit in Falana Street, Ejigbo, Lagos. They brought canes to the poling unit and they chased out. They said if you are not voting for APC, we should go back to our homes.”
