Anambra LG Poll: Gunshots, Tension as Political Parties Clash

Tension and sporadic gunshots were reported on Saturday at the headquarters of Anambra East Local Government Area, where voting was scheduled to take place as part of the state’s local government elections.

The situation occurred as the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faced a challenge from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Anambra East, the only local government area where the party had an opponent. APGA was unchallenged in the other 20 local government areas.

Hundreds of residents and party supporters arrived at the council headquarters in Otuocha from about 6 a.m. to monitor the distribution of election materials.

However, YPP alleged that security personnel initially prevented its agents from entering the premises to observe the handling and distribution of the materials.

The party’s local government collation agent, Chief Charles Ifediorah, described the situation as unacceptable and alleged that the electoral process was being manipulated in favour of APGA.

He said YPP agents from the 241 polling units had gathered at the council headquarters but were initially denied access.

According to him, they were later allowed into the premises after the arrival of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Ifediorah alleged that some vehicles subsequently left the premises carrying election materials to Enugwu Otu, Eziagulu Otu and Nsugbe Ward 1.

He said the development prompted the YPP to withdraw from the election, claiming that the process had already been compromised.

The YPP official also alleged that gunshots were fired around the council headquarters in an attempt to intimidate supporters of the party.

He claimed that a female YPP member identified as Ijeoma was hit by gunfire and taken to a hospital for treatment. The allegation had not been independently confirmed.

The party also maintained that its demand for the chairmanship position to be allocated to Nsugbe was based on its claim that the area had not produced a local government chairman since Anambra East was created.

“For the sake of equity, justice and fair play, we want the next local government chairman to come from Nsugbe,” Ifediorah said.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo had earlier urged voters to support APGA during the campaign for the local government elections.

Soludo said APGA was the dominant political force in the state, noting that the party had no challengers in 20 of the 21 local government areas.

He attributed the absence of opposition candidates in most areas to APGA’s performance during the last governorship election.

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) had yet to issue an official response to the reported tension and allegations from Anambra East as of the time of filing the report.