FCT Polls: Voter Inducement In Karshi As Thugs Attack Journalist

Voting at polling units in Karshi, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), was on Saturday marred by voter inducement and an attack on a journalist during the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.

A visit to the polling unit 027 showed a steady flow of voters who turned out early to cast their ballots.

Accreditation and voting were ongoing when suspected thugs disrupted the process. The individuals, believed to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), assaulted a correspondent of LEADERSHIP Newspaper covering the exercise and seized his mobile phone.

The incident caused momentary panic among voters as Police operatives from the Karshi Division later intervened. The journalist’s phone was recovered about two hours after the incident, following efforts by the patrol team.

There was also observation of voter inducement around the polling area.

Despite prohibited monetary incentives. some voters were seen induced with cash payments as low as N500 in exchange for their support. The inducement occurred discreetly near the polling unit 027.

A resident of Karshi who doesn’t want his name mentioned also told LEADERSHIP at the polling unit that, “We noticed some individuals giving out N500 to voters. It was done quietly but people saw it happening.”