Kogi LG elections turn bloody •3 killed, many injured

Despite the boycott of the Kogi Council poll by the opposition, the election went on as scheduled but it witnessed that led to the killing of one of the PDP Councillorship candidates while two others sustained injuries.

The deceased were Adonis Omeh from Awo Ward 1 in Ojoku District of Ankpa, Augustine Ebo and another person whose identity could not be ascertained.

Adonis Omeh was said to have been gunned down on Friday night by unknown persons, while another victim was reported to be returning from a meeting with party members when he met his death.

Dekina Council where the governor, Capt Idris Wada, comes from and that of Mopamuro where the deputy governor hails from, were bedeviled with crises as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which was said to have boycotted the poll, gave a tough showing.

Election took place in almost the councils areas except in some parts of Ijumu Local Government, Ogori Mamangogo and a few others.

In Mopamuro, for over six hours, election could not hold as about five people were matcheted.

They were receiving treatment at the Mopa General Hospital.

Augustine Ebo and the man whose identity could not be ascertained, were said to have clashed over whether or not the election should hold in the area.

At Alloma, the former governor Abubakar Audu’s town , Mr John Okpanachi, a youth leader, was allegedly shot dead in the morning by assailants in police uniform for challenging them over non-receipt of electoral materials.

Anyigba, the usual flashpoint in the Eastern Senatorial District, was quiet and peaceful as accreditation went smoothly with heavy presence of security personnel, while some units in Idah did not see electoral officers or materials.

Confirming the incidents, Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Amadi Nwaneri, said only one person was killed in Dekina and was yet to get the reports on Awo and Alloma killings.

At most of the polling units in Lokoja, there were high presence of security personnel. Though accreditation commenced in time, most centres could not accredit up to 100 voters before 12 noon.

At Crowther Memorial College unit 012, only 39 voters were accredited out of 1439 registered voters while at Lokoja Club unit 016, about 50 voters were accredited out of 1557.

In Kabba, there was a little crisis between party supporters. In the morning at Ayewa Ward, accreditation went on well at Oke-Egbe Ward 1 unit 008 in Yagba-West, 55 voters were accredited at 11:44 am out of 274 registered.

At about 11:44 am, Cinema polling unit in Lokoja, security agents told newsmen that they reported for duty at the unit as early as 6am but were yet to see electoral officers and materials while about 12 voters were seen to be accredited.

At Okene in the Central senatorial district, accreditation commenced on time with massive turnout in some areas while there was a total boycott in Ogori mangogo local government area.
TRIBUNE