Election violence rocks Ebonyi State as Uzabe observer is assaulted for refusing to vote for APC
Lucy Ogodo, an Uzabe (CODE) observer, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs of violating her right to vote for her preferred candidate in today’s governorship and state assembly elections in Ebonyi State.
Ogodo narrated this via her twitter account, adding that security agents looked away while she was being harassed.
She tweeted: “Today I went to my polling unit to perform my civic duty…APC thugs followed me to my polling booth insisting I vote APC.
“Of course, I refused and voted my preferred candidate after much struggle to tear my ballot paper in front of the already bought-over security men and INEC staff.
“Afterwards my clothes were torn and I got beaten up. I’m alive and well, thank God. They threatened to kill me when they see me in town. Well, na God get all man life and we all die at some points. But while I live, nobody will bully me into supporting evil.”
Condemning the incident, Uzabe called on police to swiftly respond to the incident and protect her and the entire citizens of the state.
“We condemn in totality the attack of our accredited @UZABE_NG observer in Ebonyi State and call on @PoliceNG to act swiftly and protect her and all citizens who have come out to vote.”
The Chief Executive of Connected Development, Hamzaht Lawal, also bemoaned the situation and called on police to safeguard all voters.
Lawal wrote: “The attack of our @inecnigeria accredited @uzabe_ng @Connected_dev field observer in Ebonyi State by overzealous party agents is unacceptable. This is a call to @PoliceNG and other security agents to protect and safeguard all voters #NigeriaDecide2023.
“Dear Uzodimma Lucy Ogodo, I’m sorry for the brutality you have faced, and thank you for your tenacity in the election observation mission @Connected_dev”.
He added, “Her phone is currently unreachable, and we @Connected_dev are worried. I dare say this is an indictment on security personnel responsible for curbing all forms of electoral violence. We will not relent until justice is served.”
