Reps primaries: Protest rocks Benue as APC LG chairmen disappear with results

Protest erupted on Saturday in Okpoga, headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, during the ongoing APC House of Representatives primary election for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency.

The protest reportedly followed the disappearance of the three local government party chairmen from Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo with the election results.

Sources told DAILY POST that tension started after it became obvious that a particular aspirant was leading in the contest.

According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed men allegedly stormed the venue and dispersed party members and supporters, creating confusion at the collation centre.

The development reportedly paved the way for suspected thugs to engage in massive thumb-printing around the Okpoga Roundabout area under the watch of security personnel.

Shortly afterwards, the three local government chairmen allegedly left the venue with the election results from their respective LGAs.

As of the time of filing this report, protests were still ongoing in Okpoga, while the whereabouts of the chairmen remained unknown.

The incident comes amid earlier allegations by some APC stakeholders that there were attempts by political powerbrokers to impose a particular aspirant as the consensus candidate for the constituency.

However, the party leadership had reportedly insisted that all aspirants should test their popularity through the primary election process.

Reps primaries: Protest rocks Benue as APC LG chairmen disappear with results