Election Materials Destroyed by Thugs, Voters Flee in Ejigbo; ADC Candidate Survives Attack

A polling unit in Ejigbo, Osun State, became a scene of chaos as political thugs destroyed all election materials, forcing voters to flee for their safety. The incident occurred at unit 13, ward 4, which was also the polling unit for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam.

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There was a total disruption of the electoral process and their plan was to attack me.

Salaam, who was present at the unit, described the event as a "total disruption of the electoral process" and claimed it was a "well-planned attack" aimed at him personally. He stated that his "strategic movement away from that area" and the protection of his security personnel allowed him to escape unharmed. "It is not a small thing; it is a big issue," Salaam remarked, expressing worry about the state of Nigerian democracy and security operations.

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So, it is not a small thing; it is a big issue. This was a well-planned attack.

"It appears that when you belong to a particular party or have the backing of the government, you can do things the way you want. This is not fair. This is not democracy," he lamented. Salaam noted that "elderly women and men ran away to save their lives," highlighting the fear and lack of protection for citizens. He observed that security officials "were just looking," suggesting potential complicity with certain political parties and contributing to a climate where people "take the law into their own hands."

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I feel so bad and sad about it. I am worried and disturbed about the state of Nigerian democracy, the way we are going, and the way security operations are being handled.

The ADC candidate vowed to pursue the matter, stating, "I will follow it up and escalate the matter." He questioned the purpose of elections if votes do not count and democracy is undermined by force, asking, "How can we differentiate this from military rule?" He concluded that the event was not a true election but a "selection," driven by a desire for power rather than the will of the people.

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It appears that when you belong to a particular party or have the backing of the government, you can do things the way you want. This is not fair. This is not democracy.