Edo APC guber primary: Thugs invade coalition centre

Political thugs allegedly working for one of the leading aspirants in the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in Edo State on Saturday invaded the coalition centre and disrupted the exercise.

DAILY POST reports that the results of eight local governments were already announced by the various returning electoral officers before the hoodlums, who were in the hundreds, invaded the venue, Lushville Hotels and Suites located at Gapiona, GRA, Benin City.

The hoodlums disrupted the coalition exercise despite the presence of heavily armed security operatives. They assaulted journalists and also chased the electoral officers and officials of the party’s State Working Committee out of the venue.

The coalition of the primary results was subsequently suspended.

However, the chairman of the electoral committee, Imo State’s Governor Hope Uzodimma, was at the Protea Hotel.

The results for eight out of the 18 local government areas were announced before the disruption by hoodlums. Of the eight, Senator Monday Okpebholo won six local government areas, while Honourable Dennis Idahosa won two.

The collation at the Lushville Hotel and Suite, in GRA, Benin City, was broadcast live on television. Results from eight local government areas had already been announced when journalists covering the event were alerted to vacate the centre of the event.

The thugs swooped on the venue after overpowering police operatives at the gate.

Several journalists, including NTA cameraman and FRCN reporter, were manhandled, and their equipment damaged. The presence of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye, and the officials of the party at the collation centre did not deter the hoodlums from engaging in the free-for-all.