7 APC, 5 PDP members killed in Kano, Kwara, Imo, Benue, others

Twelve members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were murdered in the five states of Benue, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Enugu and Kano in the last one week following the shift of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu had in the wee hours of Saturday, February 16, rescheduled it to February 23.

Checks by Blueprint reveals that some members of the ruling APC in five states and PDP members in Kano state were killed in the last one week.

On the eve of the postponement date, the chairman of APC in Ohimini local government area of Benue state, Boniface Okloho, was murdered by gunmen.

Late Okloho, according to the APC’s state publicity secretary, James Ornguga, was killed while he was on his way back home from a party’s function.

Also, the APC chairman in Logara/Umuohiagu Ward in the Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo state Ifeanyi Ozoemena was killed on Tuesday night in his house.

The state’s Police Commissioner, Dasuki Galadanchi, who confirmed his death, stated that he was killed shortly after presiding over his party’s ward meeting.

Also during the week, two people believed to be members of the APC were killed in Ojoku in Oyun local government area of Kwara state, while its senatorial candidate for Kwara South, Lola Ashiru, reportedly escaped assassination attempt by political thugs.

Similarly, two APC members in Obot-Akara local government area of Akwa Ibom state have reportedly lost their lives while 13 vehicles belonging to INEC were burnt.

In Eha Alumona in Nsukka local government area of Enugu state, the killing of a supporter of APC, Mr Chukwuemeka Ishienyiwas reported. He was allegedly shot dead while returning from a meeting purportedly organised by the PDP in the area on Wednesday night.

When contacted the police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu said he had not been informed about the incident, saying: “I will find out”.

 However, PDP recorded its casualties  Thursday when suspected hoodlums attacked the convoy of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at Kofa town in Kano state.

Kwankwaso and his followers were said to be in Kofa town in Bebeji local government area of the state for last round of PDP campaign when they were attacked by suspected thugs.

 “I counted five dead bodies which were moved away in a police Hilux Van. Many vehicles were set ablaze; and buildings around the Kofa Neighbourhood were also burnt,”an eye witness account said.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje condemned the attack, which he alleged was perpetrated by members of Kwankwasiyya group of the PDP.

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