The bye-election poll in Isoko South State Constituency 1 of Delta State was reportedly invaded by hoodlums on Saturday, with one person killed.

Following the death of Hon. Kenneth Ogba in June of this year, the State House of Assembly seat became vacant.

After a misunderstanding among the electorates at one of the voting units, a shooting incident occurred at Irri Ikpide community on Saturday during the bye-election.

An eyewitness reported the incident happened around 3:15 p.m., when armed hoodlums attacked Irri Ward 10, polling unit 5, to steal election ballot papers.

The thugs, who were allegedly armed with AK47 rifles, fired intermittent shots into the air to scare away potential voters before one of them shot the deceased in the head for an unknown reason.

Witnesses reported the election had been rather peaceful at the facility before the tragic tragedy.

However, the bye-election had started on a wobbly note at many polling units earlier in the day, with the INEC’s newly implemented Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the poll reportedly refusing eligible voters’ Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

In various polling units around the constituency, the BVAS device, which should concurrently accredit voters with both fingerprints and pictures to confirm the authenticity of the ballots, was found to be malfunctioning.

Chief Ross Uredi, who had troubles with the machine after being denied numerous times, told reporters at his unit, Irri ward 11, unit 6 Idheze, that the system might have failures here and there, but asked voters to show patience with the procedure to cast their ballots.

Also addressing at his Uro-Irri rural home after casting his ballot at his unit, the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Isoko’s South Constituency 1 campaign organization.

Sir Constantine Ikpokpo of the Isoko South Local Government Council explained the election as “very interesting,” stating that the only snag he received from some units was that the devices were not functioning properly.

Hon. Ovuakpoye Evivie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Michael Emumena Paul of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo of the All Progressives Congress are contesting the bye-election.