One injured as APC, ADC supporters clash over vote-buying allegations in Ilawe-Ekiti

Voting was briefly disrupted on Saturday at a polling unit in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area after a violent clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), triggered by allegations of vote-buying.

The incident occurred at Unit 4, Ward 2, Ilawe-Ekiti, during the ongoing off-cycle governorship election. Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated when voters accused party supporters of attempting to influence the electoral process around the polling environment.

What began as a verbal confrontation quickly degenerated into physical violence, scattering voters and temporarily halting activity at the polling station. One person sustained injuries during the clash and was treated on site, according to security personnel.

Security operatives stationed in the area intervened shortly after the outbreak of violence, restoring order and securing the polling unit. A combined team of police officers and paramilitary personnel established a perimeter around the area, dispersing the groups involved and allowing voting to resume.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later continued election duties under tightened security, as voters returned to the queues following the intervention.

The altercation adds to concerns raised by election observers and civil society groups about isolated incidents of electoral tension linked to allegations of financial inducement in parts of the state.

Security agencies have since increased patrols around polling units and key transit routes in Ekiti South-West to prevent a recurrence as the election progresses toward collation and result transmission phases.