2023 APC NA Primaries: Violence mars Ekiti Central, Calabar South/Akpabuyo federal constituency elections as Police kill delegate in Calabar

The primary election of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 held at Aramoko-Ekiti was disrupted as the returning officer was attacked by a yet to be identified person.

The election was going on smoothly with the heavy security personnel on the ground monitoring the proceeding.

Delegates from Ekiti West local government area were the first set to vote as those from Efon and Ijero local government areas were outside the gate of the venue where the election was ongoing.

Newsmen later realised that the returning officer, Akinwale Alebiosu had been attacked by yet to be identified persons.

The agent of Ade Ilesanmi popularly known as brain box, Taye Oyewusi said trouble started when it was announced that the original result sheet was not available and that the results would later be copied from an A4 paper proposed as a rescue result sheet.

This annoyed the supporters of other aspirants who argued that they would not align with such a procedure.

Similarly, the agent of Dele Philips, Mr. Ayodeji Olatunbosun said it was like a drama when the agent of the former chief of staff, Biodun Omoleye destroyed the ballot box and began to create confusion at an election that is yet to be decided.

Members of the All Progressives Congress from Ekiti West, Efon and Ijero local government areas later proceeded to the party secretariat in Ado-Ekiti to register their grievances as the crowd who were mostly youths and women protested at the secretariat.

Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Assembly primaries held at the cultural centre complex in Calabar on Friday turned bloody as a trigger wielding police officer killed the Calabar south ward 7 youth leader who was also a party delegate Mr Emmanuel Joseph. The incidence happened when violence erupted during the process of electing the party candidate for the Calabar South, Akpabuyo federal constituency

Trouble started when Hon. Saviour Nyong and the Deputy Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Bassey, the two leading aspirants, began exchanging harsh words and threats which resulted in the invitation of men of the Anti- Cultism\ Kidnapping Unit of the police which started firing live bullets to disperse the tense crowd but unfortunately a stray bullet hit the deceased in the chest.

At the time of filing this report, the police have yet to make an official statement on the matter or disclosed any information on the whereabouts of the corpse. Also, efforts to reach leaders of the party on the outcome of the primaries were nought.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)