Tear gas was discharged at a polling unit in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, on Saturday, disrupting the collation of local election results and causing panic among voters. The incident occurred as officials began counting ballots for the councillorship election, according to reports and circulating video footage.
A voter present at the Kuchaku polling unit alleged that individuals linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) entered the venue, seized the official result sheet, and deployed tear gas before leaving. “APC came with armed gunmen to pick our result sheet that we were computing just now and went with it. They tear-gassed everybody,” the voter stated in a video recorded at the scene. The alleged seizure of the result sheet, a critical document for certifying outcomes, temporarily halted the transparent counting process.
The disturbance prompted several voters to flee the area, creating confusion and a brief suspension of activities. Officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force were reportedly present during the incident. Their presence raises questions about the security arrangements for the collation stage, a procedure typically conducted under supervised, peaceful conditions to maintain public trust.
Local council elections are foundational to Nigeria’s federal system, determining representation at the grassroots level. The alleged interference with result materials at this stage directly threatens the integrity of the voting process and risks undermining voter confidence. Disruptions during collation can fuel disputes over outcomes and complicate the official certification of winners.
The Kuje Area Council incident underscores persistent challenges in safeguarding electoral processes beyond the initial voting phase. While security personnel were on-site, the alleged actions of politically affiliated individuals highlight gaps in enforcement. Authorities have not yet publicly commented on the specific allegations or confirmed an investigation into the matter.
This event adds to a pattern of reported electoral violence and intimidation in Nigeria, where temporary halts to counting and seizure of results have previously marred polls. For international observers and domestic stakeholders, the incident reinforces concerns about the need for robust, impartial security during all stages of elections, including the sensitive post-voting collation period. The situation calls for a transparent review to ensure that result compilation remains free from coercion and that all materials are accounted for in accordance with electoral guidelines.
