• APC supporter killed
From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Three was a large turnout of voters across all the 21 local government areas of Kogi State as the election was largely peaceful and orderly.
There was also early arrival of election materials as accreditation began as early as 8:20 a.m especially in some polling units in Kabba-Bunu , Ijumu, Yagba West and Yagba East local government areas of the state.
By 8:30a.m in Lokoja, almost all polling units had the presence of electoral and security officials, with prospective voters checking out their names.
In Ankpa, Idah, Omala and Ofu, report indicated early arrival of materials.
There was no election in Ogori-Magongo LG as voters waited endlessly to cast their votes while there was no voting materials in all the polling units in the local government as at 12: p.m when this story was filed.
An eyewitnesses alleged that a particular party hijacked the election materials and took it to a hideout where they stuffed the ballot boxes with votes of that particular party.
A woman was said to have been apprehended with the stuffed boxes with a sum of N1 million.
She was said to have been beaten and handed over to security men.
Reacting to the statement, INEC in a statement was quoted as expressing dissatisfaction over the incident. “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.
“The Commission views this situation seriously. Our senior officials deployed to the state are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that INEC may cancel the results of that local government and order a fresh election at a later date.
One person killed in Ayingba
Suspected thugs of a political party allegedly gunned down one Umar Hassan, 35, at his Agala Ogane Polling Unit, Anyigba.
Fear gripped voters at the Polling Unit as the thugs were said to be on rampage, threatening and shooting sporadically.
An eyewitness who identified himself simply as Adamu, told newsmen how the thugs invaded the Polling Unit with sophisticated weapons, threatening to kill anyone who does not vote for their party.
“It was like what we watch in horror movies as they invaded our Polling Unit with very dangerous weapons. Unfortunately, Hassan fell victim and he was gunned down.”
Reacting to the incident, the Spokesman of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo, condemned the attack and urged security agencies to fish out the killers immediately.
“The gruesome murder of Hassan Umar whose only sin was being an APC member is unacceptable. The security agents in the area should fish out the murderers immediately.
“In the 21st Century, it is sad that people are still killed for supporting a particular political party. It is unacceptable and condemnable. We knew the only agenda of the SDP is to wage violence against our people. We must restore confidence in our electoral process”, he said.
Gov Bello lauds INEC, security agencies over conduct of election
Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello commended INEC and the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial election in the state.
Bello arrived to cast his vote at his Agassa poling unit 11, Agassa Okeneba ward at exactly 9:15 a.m accompanied by the first lady, Aminat Bello, Rashidat Bello and the second wife, Hafisat Bello.
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, adding that he has not heard any negative report from any quarter.
Bello charged journalists to only publish verified reports and ignore rumour that might be circulated on the social media.