Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

Human Rights Watch interviewed four NURTW members who had been shot and
wounded by members of the pro-Ladoja wing of NURTW in February 2007. The victims
each said that their rivals had descended on their vehicles not far from the motor park
they worked out of, smashed the windows of their vehicles and then fired at them as
they fled. All of the victims bore fresh gunshot wounds days after the incident and said
that the police did not make any arrests in connection with the incident. 192
Violence and insecurity became the norm in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo in the runup
to the April polls. On several occasions thugs loyal to Adedibu rampaged through
the streets of Ibadan, attacking motorists and looting shops along the road. 193
According to media and other sources, clashes between the two factions in the runup
to the elections claimed more than a dozen lives, with many more wounded. 194
On April 11, a few days before the gubernatorial poll, Akala’s campaign convoy
passed by the campaign office of ANPP gubernatorial candidate Abiola Ajimobi on its
way to a rally. Eyewitnesses described several cars pulling to a halt and PDP thugs
descending and shooting at the ANPP office. They also destroyed two cars in the
compound and a stall selling food outside the gate of the office. 195 An elderly woman
selling food outside the gates told Human Rights Watch: “There were many people,
so many buses, so many cars. They came with cutlasses, guns. They shout ‘We are
the governor! We are Akala!’ Everybody ran immediately because of the guns.” 196
Oyo’s 2007 Elections: A Victory for Corruption and Impunity
Oyo’s 2007 elections saw the same open vote rigging and intimidation of voters that
derailed the exercise across most of Nigeria. Observers and journalists reported
attacks by thugs on polling stations who stole ballot boxes and several voters were
reportedly shot or stabbed while trying to cast their ballots in Ogbomosho and
192 Human Rights Watch interviews, Ibadan, Feburary 9, 2007.
193 Human Rights Watch interviews with journalists and civil society activists, Ibadan, February 2007.
194 Press archives on file with Human Rights Watch.
195 Human Rights Watch interviews, Ibadan, April 26, 2007.
196 Human Rights Watch interview, Ibadan, April 26, 2007.
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Human Rights Watch October 2007