The governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State was suspended indefinitely amidst violence and protests that broke out at the Oluyemo Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti where the election held.
Trouble started when agents of some of the aspirants complained that the electoral process was being manipulated.
This paved the way for some thugs to attack the ballot boxes and smashed it to the ground to empty the ballot papers.
The security agencies, which were caught unawares, had a difficult time bringing the situation under control.
Agents of some strong contenders accused the security agencies of allegedly compromising the process in favour of former governor Kayode Fayemi.
They alleged that an agent to Fayemi, Mr. Samuel Abejide, was writing the serial numbers of ballot papers to authenticate who delegates voted for.
Only delegates from four local governments had concluded voting when the crisis erupted.
The protesters threw sachet water at the crowd and also chanted derisive songs against Fayemi.
Before the primary started, there was an allegation that one of the leading aspirants camped delegates in his home country for two days and brought them directly to the venue thereby denying other aspirants access to them. There was also a rumour that each of the delegates got between N200,000 and N300,000 to buy their votes.
The Chairman of the Election Committee and Governor of Nasarawa State, Umar Al-Makura, quickly went into an emergency closed-door meeting with all the aspirants at about 4:53 pm.
In the ensuing pandemonium, delegates started leaving the venue in droves.
Security agencies also arrested one man for allegedly trying to grab the ballot box.
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