Bloody Ekiti poll: Three people felled by bullets

Ekiti State may have returned to the era of bloody electoral violence as at least three voters were killed in March 20 State House of Assembly bye-election.

Following the fatal shootings, the election was immediately suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Confirming the incident, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Tella Adeniran, said the election was peaceful until some thugs invaded some polling units, shooting sporadically.

“At Polling Unit 07, Ward 07, three voters were shot dead while a youth corps member, a police woman and an INEC staff sustained gunshot wounds,” he said in a statement in Ado Ekiti, the capital.

He stated: “The Ekiti East State Constituency I bye-election which started at 8.30 a.m. today witnessed 100 percent opening of polls at 8.30 a.m.

“The exercise commenced on a good note in a peaceful and orderly manner.

“However, at about 10.00 am, there were reported cases of violence: in two Polling Units of Ward 09 (Obadore IV); Polling Unit 8 (Baba Egbe/Odouro /Odoule) and Polling Unit 9 (Beside Baba Egbe/Odouru/Odoule I), Polling Unit 07 (Aro street/Aro) of Ward 07 (Obadore lI).

“Under this circumstance, the safety of electoral officials, security personnel and election materials, as well as the credibility of the process, cannot be guaranteed.”