Shot While Serving, Now Honored
Election Workers Receive Presidential Awards After CCIJ Investigation
By Olanrewaju Oyedeji
Aug. 12, 2025
Men of the Nigerian Army stand outside a polling unit, during Nigeria’s presidential election in Kano State, Nigeria on February 25, 2023.
Photograph by Sodiq Adelakun/CCIJ
Paul Obaji and Chibuzor Oliaku – two election workers shot by the Nigerian Army amid surging violence during 2023 presidential voting – were honored last Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu with National Youth Service Corps awards.
The president’s recognition comes after an investigation by the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) exposing the wide extent of election irregularities and violence.
The awardees
Photograph: National Youth Service Corps
The plights of Obaji and Oliaku came to light after CCIJ detailed how Nigerian Army officials shot them, leaving them for dead. The two men were working as ad-hoc voting officials, temporary workers for the government’s Independent National Election Commission.
The two men each had to undergo multiple surgeries. Oliaku still struggles to walk properly while Obaji uses a walking cane for support.
Obaji, speaking at the event, expressed happiness that his story received national attention.
“It was devastating to be shot but this event and the recognition gives hope,” he said after the ceremony.
Lauding their gallantry, the NYSC detailed how they were shot while working as ad-hoc officers in the elections and how their courage deserved national recognition.
The president, represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, celebrated the men for their “discipline, commitment, selflessness, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity.”
Contributing to democracy by making this kind of tangible impact is one of the major reasons why we chose to dig into the 2023 Nigerian elections.
The president awarded the men the honors in the Hope Alive category on July 29 at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the nation’s capital of Abuja. At the ceremony, awardees were promised employment and a scholarship to further their studies. They also got cash gifts to help cover their medical expenses.
CCIJ’s investigation detailed how Obaji, Oliaku and two other workers were transporting balloting documents to a voting collation center on election day when men in military uniforms allegedly shot at the 18-seater Toyota Hiace as they were traveling along Umuaja Road, in Umutu.
Witnesses told CCIJ how Paul and Chibuzor were left soaking in blood after the incident, unsure whether they would survive.
The CCIJ visited multiple locations, including the scene of the shooting and hospitals, to report on the incident.
Electoral officers hired to distribute election material to polling units sit with ballot boxes in a popular Lagos informal transport system known as Danfo during the elections in Ikeja district, Lagos.
Photograph by Akintunde Akinleye/CCIJ
“Contributing to democracy by making this kind of tangible impact is one of the major reasons why we chose to dig into the 2023 Nigerian elections,” said CCIJ Executive Director Jeff Kelly Lowenstein.
“I’m very proud of our team that drove this comprehensive investigation and the journalists with whom we are privileged to work, and grateful to Mr. Obaji and Mr. Oliaku for sharing their harrowing stories. We are committed to continuing to cover these critical issues.”
CCIJ Editorial and Design Team
Ajibola Amzat
Andrew Lehren
Nic Bothma
Jillian Dudziak
Rosaleen Ortiz de Jesús