At least 4 people were killed and many others injured as local government elections held in Kogi State yesterday despite the boycotting of the elections by the opposition.
Those that lost their lives included Adonis Omeh, a councillorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) from Awo Ward 1 in Ojuku District of Ankpa; Augustine Ebo and a yet-to-be-identified person.
While Adonis Omeh was said to have been gunned down on Friday night by unknown persons, Ebo was reported to be returning from a meeting with party members when he met his death.
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 hometown of former governor Abubakar Audu, 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.
The contest was very tough in Dekina and Mapomuro Local Government Areas where the governor, Capt Idris Wada, and the deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi hail from respectively. Despite the boycott of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), they still had an excellent showing.
Election took place in almost all the council areas except in some parts of Ijumu and Ogori Mamangogo local government areas.
In Mopamuro, for over six hours, election could not hold as about five people were matcheted.
They were rushed to the Mopa General Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
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.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Amadi Nwaneri, confirmed the incidents, but 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 was a 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.