Hoodlums have reportedly rough handled prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s primary election for the restored Gboko I (Ipav) State Constituency in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident which happened on Wednesday involved the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Politics, Mobilisation and Special Duties, James Tor, APC chieftain, Smart Apurugh Girgi and several others.
It was learnt that the victims were accompanying electoral officials and security personnel conveying election materials and results to Makurdi after the exercise when they were ambushed along the route.
The APC primary election reportedly featured two aspirants, Terfa Aha and Aondona Usende for the restored constituency by the court which compelled Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to mandate political parties to conduct their primary election to fill the position ahead of the 2027 general election.
The electoral officials were said to have declared Terfa Aha winner after polling 5,901 votes against Usende’s 1,242 votes.
One of the victims, Smart Girgi, who spoke to journalists from his hospital bed in Gboko, alleged that armed youths intercepted their convoy, attacked occupants and attempted to prevent the movement of electoral officials and election materials.
He said that the attackers forced some occupants out of their vehicles and subjected them to severe beatings before security operatives intervened and restored order.
Another victim, who witnessed the incident but declined to mention his name, said the attackers mounted a road blockade along the Gboko-Makurdi highway and targeted persons believed to be associated with the primary election process.
The witness said several victims sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment, while electoral officials among others narrowly escaped the scene.
Some witnesses familiar with the exercise stated that voting and collation were largely peaceful until the disturbance occurred after the conclusion of the primary election.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Gboko Local Government Council, Barr. Torseer Yina, condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate and a threat to democratic values.
Yina while speaking with journalists called on security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He urged political actors and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that political disagreements should not degenerate into violence.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Udeme Edet, was however yet to comment on the incident as at the time of filling this report.