The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says
gunmen attacked the residence of its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in
Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, in the early hours of Friday.
The electoral umpire said the incident occurred around 3.30
am.
“The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun
battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived,” INEC said in a
statement posted on X.
“While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle.”
INEC also called for a “thorough investigation” of the
incident.
“A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to
protect the residence,” the statement reads.
“This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state
office. We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection
for our personnel and assets in Kogi State.”
There has been palpable tension in Kogi since the November
11 governorship election.
Days after the election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded words over an alleged plot to
burn down the INEC office in the state.
The SDP governorship campaign council had said security
should be beefed up around the office in Lokoja because there was a plan to
incinerate it in order to “damage all evidence of rigging”.
But the APC governorship campaign council said the SDP was
engaging in propaganda.
On Wednesday, a mob invaded the INEC office in Lokoja.
INEC said the mob barricaded all entrances to the office in
the morning and prevented attorneys representing political parties from
inspecting documents/materials used in the election.
Meanwhile, the SDP and Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, its
governorship candidate, are challenging the victory of Usman Ododo, APC
candidate, in the polls.
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