Ekiti Guber Poll: APC, ADC Supporters Clash Over Vote-Buying Allegations

A mild drama unfolded at Unit 4, Ward 2, in Ilawe Ekiti during the ongoing governorship election, as supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress engaged in a heated argument over alleged vote-buying.

The governorship candidate of the ADC, Dare Bejide, who cast his vote at the polling unit, alleged that some politicians attempted to distribute money to voters but were prevented.

Bejide further claimed that an APC chieftain arrived near the polling unit in a Toyota Jeep carrying a large sum of money intended for distribution, a development he said triggered an argument that later degenerated into a scuffle.

During the fracas, one ADC supporter sustained a head injury and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Speaking to journalists, Bejide alleged that money meant for distribution had been brought to the area in a sack but was intercepted.

“Now you have the sound, the audio, one of them brought money here, they brought it in a sack but we intercepted her. She called the council chairman, and the council chairman came here also. And in a bid to defend themselves, they kept on saying that some ADC members were also distributing money. But they couldn’t mention anybody.

“But we know where the money was kept. And in a bid to retrieve the money, she called the council chairman, and that caused a lot of commotion here,” he said.

The ADC candidate also alleged that one of his aides was assaulted during the incident.

“You can see one of my aides was beaten by the security men they brought. The boy had been rushed to the hospital now,” Bejide added.

Despite the disturbance, the ADC candidate commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the election, describing electoral officials as diligent.

“The electoral personnel have been very diligent, and everything is going on very well. You realise that when you came here a few minutes ago, there was pandemonium here, but the moment they saw you with your camera, they ran away,” he said.

Voting and other electoral activities continued at the polling unit following the incident.