The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has debunked reports that there was heavy shooting in Ekeremor town, which had allegedly led to the killing of two soldiers and two civilians.
According to Mr. Lokpobiri the conduct of the election in Ekeremor was peaceful, orderly, and without violence.
Mr. Lompobiri, who voted at about 12.10pm in Ekeremor, stated through one of his aides, Preye Amba, that the reported killing of security personnel in Ekeremor is false and intended to attempt to cancel elections again.
According to Mr. Lokpobiri’s aide, "[the] election in Ekeremor went on peacefully and the resort to this [rumors of violence] by the PDP is just a way of laying the foundation to cancel the supplementary poll. No shooting whatsoever in Ekeremor."
When contacted by a SaharaReporters correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer for Baylesa State, Asinim Butswat, also confirmed that early reports of the shooting were untrue.
“That report was not true. As I speak to you now I can say that most elections [in the State] are ongoing,” he told our correspondent.