APC thugs beat Ortom’s Commissioners, lawmaker, INEC officials, burn election materials

Armed thugs loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly attacked and beat up mercilessly some Commissioners, lawmakers and Advisers of Governor Samuel Ortom while performing their functions during the exercise.

The thugs did not spare the INEC adhoc staff, PDP agents and local observers leading to the burning of all election materials disrupting the entire exercise.

Those affected included the member representing Logo/Ukum/Katsina-Ala state constituency in the Assembly, Hon. Paul Biam alongside the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Merga Kachina, the Governor’s Adviser on Revenue and Taxation, Zaye Jerome, the council’s chairman, Mr. Ibellogo Tor Tyokaa, ex-Agric Commissioner, Hon. Donald Gbugho and Deacon Dan Abbagu who were all PDP agents.

Witnesses said “the APC thugs them in Azendeshi council ward here in Ukum local government and destroyed election materials in the early hours of today (yesterday) after overpowering security officials and disrupting elections in Chito, the headquarters of Azendeshi ward”.

“The rampaging APC thugs also attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, PDP agents, observers and burnt electoral materials disrupting the entire process”.

The witness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the thugs were targeting strongholds of the opposition where PDP is expected to bring out massive votes.

Also in Jato-Aka, Kwande local government area, the report was the same as another group of APC miscreants were said to have invaded Tse-Akough Polling Unit 012 in Yaav council ward made away with voters register and disrupted the exercise.

It was gathered that one Iorver Yough, a staff of the state Ministry of Agriculture reportedly led other APC thugs with Sevav Aule said to be a village chief to destroy election materials.

“Iorver slapped the PDP agent, Michael Iornongo, used club and machete on him and broke the ballot box and snatched the register”, an eyewitness said adding that some materials were later recovered.

In Tarka, home of APC leader in the state, Senator George Akume, APC thugs were reported to have, ‘under the instructions from above’ ordered to drive voters away at Uku and Agamber polling units in Mbaajirakaa council wards and were thumb printing for the party, while in Mbalom where Fulani herdsmen killed two Catholic Priests and 17 parishioners inside the church, as well as in Guma, Otukpo and Gwer West voting was said to be orderly and peaceful.

Armed security personnel were seen at the Okwungaga Polling Unit in Ugbokolo, in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state. They tied white pieces of clothes on their hands.

Some political parties, the PDP, Mr. Idoko Idache, APC, Mr. Yusuf Jibrin and that of the All Progressives Democratic Alliance (APDA), Mr. Gabriel Okewu said that accreditation and voting commenced at the polling unit by 8:00am.

The trio said that the process was smooth and without hitches. According to them, the old people were allowed to vote first since they cannot stand for too long.

Also, former Minister of Interior and Senator-elect for Benue South Senatorial district, Comrade Abba Moro, corroborated that voting was smooth without hitches.

”The voters were voting without skirmishes because that is the right way to go. We believe in democracy and we also believe in the power of the ballot”.

”Some boys attempted to disrupt the process but with the quick intervention and combined efforts of the community leaders and the security they were prevented from achieving their aim”.

“Those boys are not even from this community. They do not even vote here,” he said.

Moro said that the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were to maintain law and order in the society but if they are overwhelmed the military could be drafted to give them support.

He, therefore, said that the presence of the military might be scaring but they were out there to keep peace.