MC Oluomo Caught on Video Threatening Igbo Voters at Polling Station

A video has gone viral on social media showing a top member of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, threatening Igbo voters at a polling station during the ongoing 2023 Nigeria presidential election in Lagos.

The video, which was captured by an eyewitness, shows MC Oluomo making the threat while law enforcement officers, including police officers and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, looked on.

In the video, MC Oluomo can be heard saying, “Any Igbo person who was born well, should come and vote here.”

The statement has been widely condemned by Nigerians on social media, with many expressing their outrage at the threat made against a particular ethnic group. It is not yet clear what action, if any, will be taken against MC Oluomo, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police have not yet released any official statements regarding the incident.

This is not the first time that MC Oluomo has been in the news for making controversial statements or engaging in violent activities. He has been accused of leading a faction of the NURTW that engages in violence and other criminal activities, including extortion and intimidation. In January 2019, he was stabbed during a political rally in Lagos, an incident that drew widespread condemnation.

The incident involving MC Oluomo underscores the ongoing issue of ethnic tensions in Nigeria, particularly during election periods. Nigeria is a diverse country, with over 250 ethnic groups, and tensions often arise during elections as politicians seek to appeal to particular ethnic groups or use ethnic identity as a tool for mobilizing voters. This can lead to outbreaks of violence, as was seen during the 2019 general elections, which were marred by incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and other irregularities.

The incident has also raised questions about the role of law enforcement in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria. Critics have accused law enforcement officers of not doing enough to prevent incidents of violence and intimidation during elections, and of failing to hold those responsible accountable. The Nigerian government has faced repeated criticism from human rights groups and international organizations for its handling of election-related violence and for its failure to address the underlying issues that contribute to such violence.

Watch the video below.