The police in Kogi state have confirmed the reported attack on the residence of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Longpet. The state Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, described the incident as very unfortunate and wicked.
Mr. Onuoha explained that the attackers arrived at the residence around 3:00 a.m. on Friday but were met with stiff resistance from security operatives. “The joy of it all is that the hoodlums did not succeed in their nefarious act as my officers gallantly repelled their attack and burnt the vehicle they came with,” Onuoha said.
“Right now, soldiers are stationed in the house alongside our personnel to ensure safety. Additionally, all the junctions around the house and the INEC office have heavily armed soldiers and policemen keeping watch to forestall any eventuality,” he assured the public.
Reacting to the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state condemned the incident but traded blames. While the SDP called for immediate investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to book, the APC blamed it on the SDP and called for the immediate arrest of the SDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka, over the attack.
Kingsley Fanwo, the Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, accused the SDP of attempting to cover their offenses in Kogi East in the just concluded Nov. 11 governorship election in the state and to corrupt INEC documents that could be used at the election petition tribunal.
He called on the police, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to immediately arrest the slide to anarchy in the state by arresting Ajaka and his supporters, who allegedly masterminded the attack on the residence of the REC. “The attack was perpetrated days after we alerted the nation of plans by the SDP thugs to attack INEC,” Fanwo added.
However, the SDP, through its Director of New Media, Muri/Sam Campaign Council, Mr. Isaiah Ijele, condemned the assassination attempt on the INEC REC, blaming the attack on thugs loyal to the state government. “We are grateful for the timely intervention of the Army, as the man and his family could have been wiped out overnight,” Ijele stated.
“The attackers also burnt his vehicles and took other valuables. This kind of behavior is not acceptable in a democratic society. Those involved in these attacks on the INEC REC must be held accountable for their actions. We call for the apprehension and justice for all those who have been involved in the protests, inciting violence, and making provocative statements,” he urged. – NAN
