Alexander Okere, Benin

Violence marred the All Progressives Congress’ primary for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in Edo State, the state primary election committee said on Sunday evening.

The committee also said that party members who assembled at the venues of the exercise held across the 10 wards were harassed and intimidated.

Alexander Okere, Benin

Violence marred the All Progressives Congress’ primary for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in Edo State, the state primary election committee said on Sunday evening.

The committee also said that party members who assembled at the venues of the exercise held across the 10 wards were harassed and intimidated.

But the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, disagreed that violence was recorded in the affected area.

“I am not in the picture of any violence. The primary, as conducted by the team (Committee) that came in, was free of any form of violence. It was a hitch-free exercise,” Kokumo told The PUNCH on the telephone.

The election was between the incumbent, Mr. Peter Akpatason, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Kabiru Adjoto.

There had been disagreements among supporters of the two aspirants over who should get the party’s ticket in the 2019 general elections.

While Akpatason is currently serving his second term in the House of Representatives, Adjoto would complete his third term as the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency in the House of Assembly.

Briefing journalists at the APC state secretariat in Benin, the Chairman of the state primary election committee, Hajia Farida Suleiman, said that the results of the exercise from the area were not ready due to the crisis.

Suleiman, however, said that the results would be released when investigations into the violence were concluded.

She also said that some wards in the Edo Central Senatorial District witnessed violent activities.