Confusion broke out on Saturday morning in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State when policemen deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office allegedly fired teargas canisters, leaving a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and an election observer injured.
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The incident occurred just hours before the commencement of the Anambra governorship election, creating panic among ad-hoc staff, observers, and officials preparing for the polls. Witnesses at the scene said the officers, suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, started shooting teargas without provocation, forcing people to flee for safety.
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Trouble reportedly began when a corps member questioned the officers about their actions. The confrontation quickly turned violent as the policemen allegedly attacked him and others with stones and chairs. A stray object from the commotion hit a window, injuring an observer from Yiaga Africa.
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The chaotic scene disrupted final election preparations at the INEC secretariat, leaving the premises in disarray as officials and staff scrambled to safety. Although police authorities later confirmed the disturbance, they claimed the matter had been settled and described it as a minor clash involving some ad-hoc staff and observers.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the state, electoral activities were delayed due to technical issues. At Polling Unit 001, Fegge Ward 5, in St. John Primary School, officials arrived early and completed setup by 8:00 a.m., but voting could not begin due to malfunctioning BVAS devices. Despite efforts by technicians to replace the faulty machines, accreditation and voting were yet to start as of 10:00 a.m., leaving voters frustrated over INEC’s lack of preparedness.
The incident added to growing tension ahead of the #AnambraDecides2025 election, raising concerns about security and logistical readiness across the state.
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