There was pandemonium in Kogi State on Saturday as thugs disrupted the voting process in Dekina Local Government Area.
The incident happened in Igi, Omedo and Eti Ajah.
It was learnt that after accreditation of voters, the electoral officers in the affected polling booths flagged off the voting process.
As the electorate started dropping ballot papers in the boxes, the thugs stormed the units.
The invasion was allegedly coordinated by a prominent politician in the area.
He is contesting for a seat in the House of Representatives.
The thugs started shooting and this led to pandemonium.
Some of the voters were beaten and ballot boxes snatched.
The few policemen around could not confront the heavily-armed thugs.
Some of the boxes were taken away before the arrival of more policemen.
Electoral officers in the area had to contact the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Lokoja, the state capital, and a senior official directed them to commence voting afresh.
A voter said: “It took the intervention of the policemen who just arrived to assure us that we can stay and exercise our franchise. It was a serious matter as the thugs were just shooting indiscriminately.”
Some thugs, who wanted to disrupt voting in Ayingba, were, however, arrested by soldiers.
Governor Idris Wada, cast his vote at Odu 1 polling unit.
Wada urged the electorate to be peaceful, saying security agents will deal with trouble makers.
