Information available to 247ureports.com from sources in Aniocha Local Government Area [LGA] of Anambra indicate that three journalists stationed in the area may have been manhandled. The journalists had gone to the area to monitor the re-run election between Dozie Nwankwo [ACN] and Uche Ekwunife [APGA] for he Aniocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal constituency.
As gathered, the group of journalists who drove in a bus labelled NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALISTS with registration number AN 212 EOI arrived at the Aguluzigbo Town Hall [the howntown of the All Progressive Grand Alliance National Chairman (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh] at minutes after 1pm [about 1:15pm]. The town hall was serving as one of the polling centers.
Upon arrival, the journalists immediately observed what appeared an ongoing manupilation of prospective voters – monies being exchanged in return for votes. The journalist identified the agents involved in the cash-for-votes as predominantly APGA agents. And as the journalist began taking photographs and video of the incident The APGA agents responded. A near ruckus ensued.
They agents manhanded one of male journalists and one female from a Dailly newspaper. The driver of the journalists’s bus speed off in the ensuing ruckus to safety.
But another eyewitness source tell 247ureports.com that the confrontation was not with the APGA agents. The source indicated that it was the police who first challenged the journalists on why they are taking photographs of the exercise. When the journalist insisted that they were doing their jobs, the police charged at them. It was at this point that the driver drove off to safety.
