A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Hajia Saratu Adebayo alleged that she was on Saturday harassed and prevented from casting her vote by youths suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged possession of fake Permanent Voter Card (PVC).
Adebayo, who is also the Chairman of Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, made the allegation at Ode Onitobe polling unit, in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state stated that the hoodlums denied her from casting her ballot for no reason.
Narrating her ordeal, Adebayo said: “when I am about to cast my vote, I presented my voter card to presiding officer but when he was trying to verify my name from his record, the APC agents came from behind and snatched my PVC from presiding officer, they hanged my hand, before I know what was happening, I got injured as six of them mobbed me.
Adebayo alleged that those who attacked her were sponsored by Representative-Elect for Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo whom she said masterminded her attack as part of the perfect arrangements she championed by separating the two polling units in the area to avoid rigging.
According to her: “our experience in the last two weeks was very bitter. Today, we took the bull by the horn and separated the two boxes but they were not comfortable with the new arrangement. Then, in the last election, their agents were six and today we made our own six too. That is where we are at par because we are trying to address rigging”.
She alleged further that one PDP observer and two agents were arrested by police during her attack and delayed them for over two hours before they were released.
She said the only a Civil Defense officer at the unit could not rescue the situation.
She however appreciated INEC officers for their orderliness and proper arrangement.
She also expressed hope that PDP would clinch the victory in the polls.
Responding to the allegation, the APC women leader in the state, Hajia Abolaji Ramata Olaide said Sarat was not harassed but denied voting because she presented fake PVC.
She alleged that a man’s picture appeared in the PVC she presented to INEC officers.
Olaide who spoke with our reporter at Ode Baraje polling unit in Ibagun ward of Ilorin East Local government said Hajia Sarat could not vote in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections because she did not have PVC.
