Hon. Moses Mkeenem, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Electoral Committee for Benue South, has condemned the invasion of the election collation center in Otukpo, Benue State.
Thugs believed to be loyal to one of the election candidates stormed the premises, brandishing guns, machetes, and other lethal weapons, according to Hon. Mkeenem.
The chairman claimed that he was only able to successfully exit Apa Gate Hotel due to the assiduous intervention of security operatives present at the venue.
Mr. Iorakaa, the committee’s driver, was not so fortunate, according to him, as he was brutalized by the thugs.
The thugs also took Mkeenem’s car key from his drivers, according to Mkeenem.
A statement signed by the committee chairman reads: “I wish to inform the general public, especially Benue South APC stakeholders, that few moments ago, I was at the Apa Gate Hotel, venue of the distribution of electoral materials/collation of election results for the APC 2022 Benue South Senatorial Primary Election, and my committee had just distributed nomination forms to ward returning officers for six local governments; namely Ado, Apa, Otukpo, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo, and Oju; when all of a sudden, thugs believed to be loyal to one of the aspirants in the election invaded the premises; brandishing guns, machetes and other lethal weapons.
“It took the assiduous intervention of security operatives present at the venue, for me to exit the premises of Apa Gate Hotel successfully. Unfortunately, the driver of the committee, Mr. Iorakaa Philip, wasn’t so lucky, as he was ambushed by the hoodlums and battered to pulp, his two phones were also snatched and his vehicle vandalized. At the time of this press release, he is in excruciating pains, with bandages all over his body.
“In addition, the thugs successfully snatched the key of my car from my driver. As I issue this press statement, I am reliably informed that the thugs are snooping all over Otukpo town, searching for me. Hence, I had to find a safe haven to hide for a while.”
Mkeenem said the collation exercises is now suspended following the development.
“Consequently, the collation exercise is hereby suspended, until further measures could be taken to guarantee the safety and security of members of the Electoral Committee and other APC stakeholders at the Apa Gate Hotel, venue of the distribution of electoral materials/collation of election results.
Above is the update on the Benue South 2022 APC senatorial primary election.”