The police in Lagos State have said reports of widespread violence, voter intimidation and suppression during Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in the state are false.
Lagos commissioner of police, Idowu Owohunwa, refuted the reports during an interview on Channels Television on Saturday.
Owohunwa said his words and situation report trumped whatever proofs of violence are available out there.
“I should be in a position to practically tell you what is on ground. Because whatever I tell you is not driven by sentiment, political affiliation and emotion.
“I deployed those policemen and I get constant feedbacks from them from the field,” the police boss said.
Owohunwa’s denial is contrary to several reports of voter suppression by thugs suspected to supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
There are documented verifiable occurrences randomly recored by citizens during the election on Saturday, evidences that are in contrast to the Lagos police commissioner’s claim of a peaceful election.
Peoples Gazette reported how APC thugs roamed the streets of Lagos prior and during the elections, warning citizens who will not vote APC to stay away.
“If you no vote for APC, no come outside o. This one no be last time o,” the thugs chanted in pidgin English as they roamed the streets in a video seen on social media.
Before Saturday’s election, on Thursday, notorious Lagos thug, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya’s threatened Igbos who will not vote for the APC to stay at home.
In the viral video, MC Oluomo charged Yorubas to go out to vote early on Saturday, adding that “we have begged them. If they don’t want to vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them, Iya Chukwudi, if you don’t want to vote for us, sit down at home. Sit down at home.”
MC Oluomo, in another video on Friday, downplayed his threat targetted at the Igbos in Lagos as a joke.
Spokesperson for the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi also dismissed MC Oluomo’s threat as a joke, ignoring calls by Nigerians for the thug’s arrest and prosecution.