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Frightened Ekiti APC governorship election officials suspend it indefinitely
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The governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has been disrupted by armed men and demonstrators. With gunshots rending the air, some ballot boxes smashed and ballot papers torn, voting was suspended.

The disruption of voting at the Oluyemi Kayode  Stadium climaxed another two hours of delay caused  by heavy rainfall.

Helpless policemen at the APC governorship primary in Ado-Ekiti

The police watched helplessly as the demonstrators had their way, halting proceedings over allegations that the election was being compromised by one of the aspirants.

Some of the rioters even burst out singing abusive songs against one of the aspirants, calling him a thief

Scene of chaos at APC primary in Ado-Ekiti
Torn ballot papers on the floor

Governor Tanko Al-Makura who chairs the election, was said to have called an urgent meeting with the commissioner of police, the retiring Abdullahi Chafe. Al-Makura was billed to address a press conference thereafter

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that the protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials to compromise the process.

The protest, which turned violent, led  to  party officials, aspirants and their followers as well as journalists  to run for safety as gunshots were heard in and around the stadium.

The  Director General of  the Babafemi Ojudu Campaign Organisation, Chief Ranti Adebisi, confirmed that   the election was being compromised.

It was  not immediately clear if the primary election would  still go on as security agents were sighted trying to restore order at the stadium.

Gov.  Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa, who is leading the team  conducting the  primary election, had earlier told NAN  that the initial downpour would not  stop the exercise.

He had stressed  the readiness of his team to provide a level playing ground for all the 33 aspirants participating in the primary.

Almakura, however,  enjoined the aspirants  to maintain decorum throughout the period, saying nothing was too much to sacrifice in the interest of the party.

Opeyemi Bamidele, a former federal lawmaker and aspirant, also  told NAN that he was satisfied with the tight security arrangement put in place for the primary.

He also pledged his readiness to abide by the outcome of the exercise.

As at  the time of filing this report, voting which started at about  4:30 pm,  has  been suspended till further notice.


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