Today’s bye-election to fill the vacant seat in the Lokoja-Kogi Federal Constituency which started on a peaceful note on Saturday was later marred by violence, vote buying and intimidation in Lokoja.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent monitoring reported that the election was marred by political thugs going from one polling unit to another to perpetrate fraud.

Although policemen and other security agents were seen at the police stations, they looked the other way, while thugs terrorised people.

The police in Lokoja have confirmed the death of two persons. Spokesman of the command, DSP William Aya, who confirmed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the latest victim, who he identified as Yadau Umoru was killed at Ugwan Pawa polling unit, in front of Maigari palace while attempting to snatch a ballot box.

According to him, the corpse of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

An unidentified man had earlier in the day been killed by a mob at the polling unit located by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s office in Lokoja, while also attempting to snatch a ballot box.

Aya had told NAN that the identity of the unfortunate man was unknown.

The bye-election which started peacefully, with impressive turnout of voters, later became characterised by vote-buying and violence, including ballot box-snatching. (NAN)

•Based on NAN reports.