Protesters storm PDP campaign office over ‘imposition’ of candidate in Kogi

Some protesters on Wednesday stormed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign office in Abuja to protest the alleged imposition of a candidate.

The protesters said there was a plan to impose Tajudeen Yusuf on Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency of Kogi state.

Yusuf is the incumbent lawmaker representing the area in the house of representatives.

He stepped down for Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, during the senatorial primary election for that area. He went on to contest the contentious house of reps primary.

Speaking with journalists at the Legacy House, Emmanuel Olukade, a former PDP chairman of the Ijumu local government, said: “Nine aspirants were screened, cleared and eligible to participate in the primary election on the 3rd day of October, 2018.

“Aspirants and delegates converged at Prestige Hotel, Kabba; the designated venue for the election on the said date and we waited sixteen hours from but did not see party officials assigned to conduct the exercise and no justifiable reason was communicated for their absence and inability to conduct the primary election.

“The delegates and aspirants then dispersed after information was received that the primary election had been shifted to 7am the following day for security considerations in view of the time to avoid apprehension.

“At about 1.30am, news filtered out that party officials led by Bode Ogunmola, Kogi state PDP publicity secretary were at the venue conducting accreditation of delegates.

“Only seven out of 337 delegates were on ground at the time other aspirants arrived the venue with delegates they were able to contact.

“This attempted electoral heist was rebuffed with protests and when  Yusuf realised the ploy was not going to fly, the thugs that came with him started sporadic shooting to ensure the primary election did not hold. This forced the officials to abscond on the premise of insecurity and alleged threats to their lives.

“The incident was reported at Kabba divisional police headquarters where it was confirmed that the police and other security agencies were not invited to provide security coverage for the event.”

Olukade asked the party to conduct a fresh poll.

Efforts to reach Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the party, to get his comment on the matter were not successful.