Soldiers impound commissioner’s vehicle in Delta

The Delta State governorship and legislative elections in Asaba metropolis, the state capital, was yesterday disrupted after soldiers molested motorists.

In the ensuing fracas, many voters took to their heels as they thought that the action of soldiers could not be predicted.

But the PDP governorship candidate blamed the action of the soldiers on a breakdown of information, adding that the situation will normalise as the relevant authorities have stepped into the matter.

The Delta State Information Commissioner, Chike Ogeah, who was at St John Bosco polling unit was victim of the soldiers, as his vehicle was impounded by the soldiers, a development, which sent many voters scampering for safety.

Many of the cars were left in the middle of the ever-busy Nnebisi Road after the soldiers left with the car keys.

As the raid progressed from the Flyover Bridge, the soldiers in their multitudes arrived at the JohnBosco, the polling unit where Ogeah was billed to vote.

A visibly angry Ogeah, later told journalists that the action of the soldiers scared away voters from casting their votes.

He said: “They (soldiers) came to meet me and demanded the key from my driver. We even said please, let us pack, they refused to allow us leave the road. I identified myself. They still took the key and went away. I’m surprised at the embarrassment of the soldiers.”

But a spokesman of the army, who disrupted the election and identified as Olaleye O, said the seizure of keys from vehicle drivers was an order from the Inspector General of Police that no vehicular movement should be allowed on election day.

According to him, “the order of no vehicular movement means no vehicular movement between 8.am and 6pm. It’s only security agents and others on essential duties that are supposed to be with their vehicles. The issue of ballot snatching is traceable to movement of vehicles and tricycles on election days.