Gunmen attack residence of Kogi electoral commissioner

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says gunmen attacked the residence of its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, in the early hours of Friday.

The electoral umpire said the incident occurred around 3.30 am.

“The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived,” INEC said in a statement posted on X.

“While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle.”

INEC also called for a “thorough investigation” of the incident.

“A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence,” the statement reads.

“This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state office. We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for our personnel and assets in Kogi State.”

There has been palpable tension in Kogi since the November 11 governorship election.

Days after the election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded words over an alleged plot to burn down the INEC office in the state.

The SDP governorship campaign council had said security should be beefed up around the office in Lokoja because there was a plan to incinerate it in order to “damage all evidence of rigging”.

But the APC governorship campaign council said the SDP was engaging in propaganda.

On Wednesday, a mob invaded the INEC office in Lokoja.

INEC said the mob barricaded all entrances to the office in the morning and prevented attorneys representing political parties from inspecting documents/materials used in the election.

Meanwhile, the SDP and Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, its governorship candidate, are challenging the victory of Usman Ododo, APC candidate, in the polls.