The recent attack on the residence of Kogi State Electoral Commissioner Gabriel Longpet has sparked a war of words between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), drawing reactions from various stakeholders.
In a press conference held shortly after the Friday assault, the Kogi APC Campaign Council pointed fingers at SDP’s governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, and his supporters, holding them responsible for the incident.
The Council went further, urging the arrest and prosecution of Ajaka. Kingsley Fanwo, spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council and also the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, expressed their stance by stating, “They have finally done their worst by attacking the residence of the Kogi State INEC Commissioner, engaging security agents in a fierce gun battle, and eventually burning down some vehicles in the residence and the area.”
Fanwo went on to claim that the same individuals attempted to set fire to the Kogi State Government House, and the State APC Secretariat in Lokoja, but these efforts were thwarted by vigilant security agents.
Accusing the SDP and their associates of desperation, Fanwo alleged a plot to destroy specific documents at INEC, insinuating an attempt to conceal alleged irregularities in Kogi East. He further claimed that these actions were linked to incidents where APC supporters were reportedly killed, forcibly removed from collation centers, and accused the SDP of manipulating results in an effort to undermine the substantial votes cast by the people of Kogi in favor of the Governor-Elect.
