Feelers from Benin City, capital of Edo State revealed that voters were force to exercise their civic right against their will following intimidation by fierce thugs and party agents that besieged several polling boots.
Report has it that most voters where threatened to and advised to leave polling boots if they are not prepared to vote for a certain political party.
There were also report of vote buying at most of the polling boots as agents offered cash for vote.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who does not want to be mentioned said “The harassment was just too much. Some people who were resisting them were slapped and pushed away from the venue, I had to hurriedly leave the place for my personal safety.”
But Peter Igbinedion who was the agent of the PDP in Unit 21, Ward 12 Oredo in Agabdo Primary School said “The exercise has been free and fair, voters have been enthusiastic to vote though the turnout is not much compared to the last time I believe because there was no restriction of movement because people are going about their daily businesses but people have been coming to vote, there is adequate security and INEC officials are on the ground”
On the allegation of voter intimidation, Igbinedion said “But you are here now and you are interviewing me, are you seeing any violence or intimidation? That is the figment of the imagination of those making such allegations. INEC has done well as far as the exercise is concerned for today and in the end, we believe that the will of the people will prevail.”
