Political violence: Would 2019 election be recorded as the most violent in Nigeria's history?
Lolo Ayaba

With the increasing number of violent attacks, killings associated with political campaigns across the country, the 2019 elections may go down as one of the most violent elections held in the history of Nigeria.

From North to South, East to West, the scenario seem not different with political enemies being abducted, gunned down, assassinated, campaign vehicles burnt and properties worth millions being destroyed.

For most states, the violence began during the party primaries, with different fractions of same political party attacking each other.

With the electioneering campaign came more violence and killings.

On February 4 2019, some parts of Kogi, Delta, Oyo and Lagos states were rocked by political violence, leaving at least seven people dead and many others injured.

No fewer than three persons were feared dead while about 20 others sustained various degrees of injuries as rival gangs clashed in the Effurun area of Warri metropolis in Delta State.

According to credible sources, the clashes between political thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are unimaginable.

In same week in Kogi State, two persons were reported killed and many others injured in an attack during a political rally in Itama area of Dekina, when APC and PDP supporters clashed during the campaign of Benjamin Ikani a PDP House of Representative candidate for Biraidu, Bassa and Dekina federal constituency,.

Also two people also died in a bloody clash between suspected political hoodlums at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Igboora area of Oyo State.

The campaign flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos early this year ended abruptly as violence broke out midway into the event.

On January 8 2019, hoodlums suspected to be members of the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), we're said to have invaded the Skypower Ground Ikeja venue with dangerous weapons, engaging one another in a bloody factional fight that led to the death of three persons.

Ajasun Waka, is one of the few lucky victims to be alive after he was attacked by unknown hoodlums on Sunday, February 17 2019.

Ajasun Waka, a well known Hausa musician for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa state, was stabbed multiple times by political thugs a day after he released his latest song titled "Sati Daya Yazo Ya Wuce", over the postponement of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Just last week in Kwara state one person was killed, while several others sustained injuries and many vehicles destroyed during an attack on an All Progressives Congress campaign train in Kwara state.

In their usual style, both APC and PDP trade blames after the Senatorial campaign turned violent in Ojoku, Kwara state.


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