The state Houses of Assembly election has been marred in Ogbia Constituency 3, Bayelsa State.

Electoral violence erupted at unit 11, Ward 6 in Oruma community, after thugs believed to be working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) disrupted the accreditation exercise being conducted by officials of INEC.

State Peoples Democratic Party women leader, Faith Opene, who is form Oruma, alleged that the APC thugs were led by Samuel Ogbuku, former Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa, who is also an indigene of the community.

She also alleged that the APC thugs dismantled the eight polling units in Oruma, adding that Ogbuku left a PDP agent bleeding in the head.

But APC agent Adaga Martins explained that the exercise was disrupted because the electoral officers could not display ballot papers and results when asked to do so by party agents.

Tension has been mounting in the area as supporters of APC and PDP spoil for war.

Some of the youths believed to be APC supporters have been chanting “No (electoral) materials, no election” and “No election here”.

At unit 4, Otuasega, in Ward 6, APC candidate for Ogbia 3, Morris Abey, alleged that the Ogbia Local Council Chairman, Enaye Abah, recruited youths of the community as “Ogbia Ward 6 Government Security”.

Some of the youths were seen wearing the tag bearing the inscription “Ogbia Ward 6 Government Security”. However, Ogbia Local Council Chairman, Enaye Abah, denied the allegations, saying he did not print security tags for any youth.

Efforts to get the reaction of Ogbuku proved abortive.

Although security operatives are deployed to the area, no arrests have been made.

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