A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Mowan Etete has been shot dead by suspected thugs in Asarama, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
This as violence has marred ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abonnema, Bonny and Gokana LGAs of the state.
Chief Etete who was a former Andoni Local Government Council Chairman, was reportedly shot dead at his house in his village, Asarama few hours into the voting exercise, alongside his elder brother and another yet to be known person.
It would be recalled that Etete was a former Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, and also former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, but later defected to APC.
A community source from the area disclosed that Chief Etete had escaped an assassination last weekend before the election was postponed.
Meanwhile, elections could not hold properly in Abonnema and Bonny LGAs of the state, following heavy shootout by thugs suspected to be supporters of the APC and PDP in the areas.
In Bonny Island, ballot boxes were destroyed with heavy shootout. It was reported that INEC ad hoc staff and voters had to abandoned the exercise and scampered for their lives.
Similarly, before commencement of the election, early hours of Saturday, thugs also believed to be supporters of the major political APC, PDP and Accord Party were seen openly shooting at the Headquarters of Akuku-Toru, Abonnema town, Many persons were hit by stray bullet, while many had sustained injuries, some were shot dead.
Also, in Gokana LGA, earlier there were smooth exercise as accreditation and Voting ended as well at around 1:50pm in Gokana Ward lll, Unit lll.
However, it was gathered that as soon as INEC officials wanted to sort the ballot papers before collating, there was violence rush by supporters loyal to one of the Political parties.
The ballot boxes were snatched at this point, some were also smashed in the process of taking them ( the ballot boxes) to stationary vehicles allegedly aided by security personnel who shut sporadically to scare people away while the boys completed their mission.
