Tension flared on Saturday at Polling Unit 4, Ward 2, in Ilawe-Ekiti during the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reportedly clashed over allegations of vote buying.
The confrontation briefly disrupted voting activities and left one ADC supporter injured. The victim, who reportedly sustained a head injury during the altercation, was taken to a hospital for treatment.
ADC governorship candidate, Dare Bejide, who cast his vote at the polling unit, alleged that attempts were being made to influence voters through cash distribution in the area.
According to him, the situation escalated after his supporters moved to challenge the alleged distribution of money to voters.
Bejide further claimed that an APC chieftain arrived at the polling unit in a Toyota jeep with cash allegedly intended for voters, triggering the confrontation.
He alleged that efforts to stop the distribution led to a heated exchange involving party supporters and security personnel.
“One of my aides was attacked by security men brought in by them, and he has been taken to the hospital,” Bejide said.
The ADC candidate added that security agencies were alerted to the alleged presence of cash at the polling unit, a development he said created panic and disorder in the area.
Despite the incident, Bejide praised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their conduct, noting that the election process had been peaceful and orderly before the clash.
“The electoral personnel have been very diligent, and everything was going on very well before the pandemonium started,” he said.
He noted that calm was eventually restored after additional security operatives were deployed to the area, allowing voting to continue under heightened security, although tension remained among party supporters.
