ONITSHA— Violence, confusion and low voter turn out yesterday marrred the re-run election in Anambra South Senatorial zone between Dr Andy Uba of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and Chief Chuma Nzeribe of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
The election which started peacefully in many parts of the seven local governments that make up the district suddenly degenerated into violence with some innocent voters chased away, beaten up mercilessly or maimed by some persons suspected to be political thugs.
At Mbosi ward in Ihiala local government, home of the APGA candidate, Chief Nzeribe, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Mr Theo Nnorom was allegedly given the beating of his life by political thugs who tore his clothes to shreds and bundled him into one of their buses.
Narrating his story to newsmen later, Nnorom, an ACN chieftain said he was at the centre waiting to be accredited to vote when two buses and a Jeep drove into the place carrying some able bodied young men he described as political thugs.
He said, “as soon as the vehicles drove in, some of them alighted from the buses and one of the candidates, stepped out of the Jeep and made straight to me with the thugs and ordered them to beat me up” because, according to him, ‘l had been working against him”.
As if the beating was not enough, the former lawmaker said he was bundled into one of the buses that conveyed the suspected thugs, saying that it took the quick intervention of the President General of the town and those who had come to vote to rescue him from his captors.
Confirming the incident, the President General of Mbosi, George Obizuluike said he was present when the APGA candidate drove into the place in a Jeep and two buses loaded with people he described as thugs that accompanied him.
Ohazuluike said the thugs numbering about 15 included some people in police uniform, saying that it was very regrettable that such an ugly incident could happen in a democratic dispensation.
Efforts to get Nzeribe’s reaction on telephone failed as at press time as he did not pick his calls.
The story was the same in Osumenyi, Orumba North and South, as well as Aguata, the home of Senator Uba.
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