INTERVIEW: Bina Efidi, lady injured at Lagos Polling Unit, narrates experience

FIJ

The February 25 presidential and national assembly elections were like no other, as voters, whose lives were threatened by politically motivated thugs at the polling units, exercised their civil rights, even after surviving killer upheaval from a violent-torn environment. One of the survivors of electoral violence, Bina Efidi, who resides in Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, spoke with SEGUN IGE in an interview, sharing her experience in the election and her perception of the political culture in the residential area.

Q: What was your voting experience like in the Saturday election? How was it like to come back to the polling unit to cast your ballot with injuries?

A: I would say it was disappointing. It was what I never expected going there to perform my civic duty. And the reverse was the case: I came back injured and I almost my life. It was not a good experience, but thank God I got some medical attention after sustaining injuries caused by political thugs. I was taken to the hospital, taken to the church, and then learned that voters had been reconvened. I felt this rage and anger. It has always been my desire to exercise my civil right. I was like ‘I must participate’. I was very serious about getting registered and getting my permanent voter card. I wanted to partake in the exercise and know that I had done my own part. I had my preferred candidate and I wanted to participate in the voting exercise. It seemed that all I went to get there that very day and how I looked up to that day was to sustain a life-threating injury. Look at my face, yet I was determined that I was still going to cast my vote. If I could stand and I had life, I said to myself, I was going to cast my vote. That was how I went back to cast my vote.

Q: What can you say about the political culture of this environment?

A: I had never heard of violence on this street. My polling unit is down my street. I changed my polling unit and it was my first time casting my ballot at the new polling unit. From the testimonies of people, the polling unit had always been peaceful. So I don’t know why what happened happened.

Q: Do you think it was politically motivated, especially because the Labour Party seemed to be gaining grounds in certain areas of Lagos?

A: I wouldn’t say that. I don’t know. When I was there, I wasn’t discussing with anybody. I was only disappointed there was no security personnel on the ground. At least, that would have deterred or prevented the thugs from coming there.

Q: Was the electoral process free and fair?

A: I was injured at the time and I couldn’t really say whether the process was smooth and fair. Voters were dispersed after the shooting and throwing of broken bottles at the polling unit. Later, I got some first-aid treatment and then went to the hospital. Coming back there, I only cast my vote and left.