As Presidential Election Nears, Voter Intimidation Makes Ugly Appearance In The Niger Delta

The On Our Radar team has shared their concerns about the rising tensions in their own communities, claiming that despite the recent signing of the anti-violence peace accord, there has been evidence of violent skirmishes and even deaths amongst supporters of the political parties. Intimidation tactics, they observe, are also on the rise, leading to fears that some voters may stay away from polling stations on the day.

As election day approaches, SaharaReporters’s newest news partner, Niger Delta-based On Our Radar, has dispatched citizen reporters to cover the developments on the ground.

The On Our Radar team has shared their concerns about the rising tensions in their own communities, claiming that despite the recent signing of the anti-violence peace accord, there has been evidence of violent skirmishes and even deaths amongst supporters of the political parties. Intimidation tactics, they observe, are also on the rise, leading to fears that some voters may stay away from polling stations on the day.

Physical intimidation 

As election tensions rise in some areas of the Niger Delta, it has been reported from Rivers State that religiously-inspired and cult gangs have been sponsored by politicians to use violence against opponents. Citizen reporters, like On Our Radar’s Eze Ahuju claim that violent skirmishes at Akabuka happened between PDP and APC supporters at a recent rally.

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