Youth believed to be political thugs disrupted the PDP primary elections organised to decide the party’s chairmanship candidate for Kanke, in the February 18 local government elections in Plateau.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the thugs, who invaded the Kwall Stadium venue of the election, beat up members of the PDP electoral committee and officials of the party, and destroyed several cars.
Worst hit in the attack was Anthony Joro, a member of the electoral committee, whose ear was mutilated.
Also hit was Dauda Waptu, the PDP Chairman in Kanke Local Government, who sustained injuries on his face.
NAN reports that the election, which began peacefully with delegates voting after accreditation, turned violent when it was Waptu’s turn to vote.
Trouble started when some of the delegates said he should not be allowed to vote because they did not recognise him as the party chairman, a position others vehemently rejected, insisting that he was the leader and must vote.
The argument later turned violent and the thugs, usually fenced off the voting centre, invaded the arena and attacked their targets.
Tyopev Terna, public relations officer of the Plateau police command, said the police were going after the political thugs that disrupted the exercise.
“We have not arrested anyone, but we are investigating the matter; the thugs beat up many people and destroyed several cars. We shall not rest until they are fished out and dealt with,” he told NAN.
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