The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Umana Umana, has spoken on the conduct of the governorship and house of assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State.

Mr Umana, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who spoke after casting his votes at Unit 1, Ndiya Ward, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, said the election has been peaceful in the unit.

Mr Umana, however, accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of disrupting the election in some parts of Nsit Ubium.

“There are reports of violence and disorder in some wards and several units.

“For example, one of the units very close to me where we have retired Captain Iniobong Ekong, the materials were hijacked, they brought in thugs who perpetrated violence. Many of the voters were injured,” Mr Umana, a former secretary to the Akwa Ibom government, said.

Mr Umana said his party, the APC, has reported the disruption to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which has promised to look into the incident.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Ekong, a security aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel, he denied the allegation that the PDP sponsored thugs to disrupt the election.

Mr Ekong, a retired captain in the Nigerian army, said it was an APC agent who tore voting materials and disrupted the election midway at Unit 7, Ndiya Ward, Nsit Ubium after some people had voted.

“I have not left my house since morning. I have not even voted, look at my voter’s card here,” Mr Ekong said while pulling out his permanent voter’s card from his pocket.

Reports indicate there were pockets of violence also in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area which prevented voting from taking place in some units in the area.