BY VICTOR BUORO, LOKOJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship primary election in Kogi State ended abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday when gunmen invaded the venue of the election, Lokoja Confluence Stadium, sending the delegates and party officials scampering for safety.
The gunmen’s invasion took the delegates by surprise and brought the exercise to an abrupt end at about 1:45am.
Our correspondent reports that voting had ended and sorting of votes were on-going when the unwanted visitors came calling, shooting sporadically into the air from different directions.
In ensuing commotion, aspirants, delegates, observers, journalists and other dignitaries had to run for their dear lives.
According to reports, votes in eight of the 10 ballot boxes were already sorted out and being counted before the gunmen’s unexpected invasion
Forefront notes that it was also horror moments for the Chairman and members of the State Electoral Panel as Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, who led the team narrowly escaped the gunmen’s bullets at the election venue.
As at the time of filing this reports, the casualty figures were yet unknown, even as some PDP stakeholders are already claiming insiders’ sabotage with strong connivance from political opponents.
According to our sources, accusing fingers are being pointed at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State with allegations of sponsoring hoodlums in the guise of gunmen to disrupt the exercise that was going on peacefully before the sudden invasion of the venue. – With NAN reports
