Voting at Polling Unit 018, Umunomu ward in Ehime Mbano Local Government, has been momentarily suspended while the governorship election in Imo state proceeds.
According to reports, there was a fight amongst political party members when there were accusations of vote-buying, which led to the suspension.
“Voting activities have been suspended at PU018, Umunomu ward, Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State due to suspected vote-buying, leading to a clash between members of different political parties,” reports made available to Gistlover read.
Gistlover remembers that the commission voiced concerns about a potential outbreak of violence in the states of Kogi and Imo before to the off-cycle election.
The security assessment revealed that there was little violence in Bayelsa State but a high level of threat to security in Kogi and Imo State.
Renowned civil society organization YIAGA has previously told Naija News that it was concerned about a potential breakout of violence in the run-up to the off-cycle election.
In a pre-election statement, the CSO expressed worry about the blatant misuse of powers associated with the incumbent government, which included attacks on political opponents, campaign poster fines and charges, and limits on campaigning.
The organisation worried that “The lack of accountability for the fatalities and attacks recorded in the pre-election period deepens the culture of impunity pervading the electoral process.”
