Voting in the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State was disrupted on Saturday by some hoodlums at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, venue of the exercise.
The protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials to compromise the process. It is believed the protesters were sponsored by some aspirants who believe that Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would eventually get the votes of majority of the delegates.
The protest, which turned violent, led to party officials, aspirants and their followers as well as journalists run for safety as gunshots were heard in and around the stadium.
Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, who is leading the team conducting the primary election, had earlier said that the initial downpour would not stop the exercise. He stressed the readiness of his team to provide a level-playing ground for all the 33 aspirants participating in the primary.
Almakura, however, enjoined the aspirants to maintain decorum throughout the period, saying nothing was too much to sacrifice in the interest of the party. Opeyemi Bamidele, a former federal lawmaker and aspirant, also said that he was satisfied with the tight security arrangement put in place for the primary.
He also pledged his readiness to abide by the outcome of the exercise. Because of the crisis, voting, which started about 4:30 pm, was suspended till further notice.
