Massive protests and violence erupted on Sunday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, over the results of the April 11 House of Assembly election.
Sources at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, gathered that trouble started after INEC announced that the Lokoja 2 State Constituency, was won by the Peoples Democratic Party.
The protesters, who stormed the INEC headquarters around 2pm on Sunday, were held back by a team of riot policemen, who cordoned off the entire Marine Street, to avoid damage to lives and property.
It was learnt that they demanded that the All Progressives Congress be declared winner of the Lokoja 2 constituency since the APC won the Lokoja 1 State Constituency while alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.
Having been driven into the streets by the Policemen, the protesters continued their protests along the Muritala Mohammed Way.
They were seen in various vehicles wielding all kinds of broom, the sign of the APC, and shouting the party slogan while traders hurriedly lock their stalls.
An eyewitness along the Muritala Muhammed Way told our correspondent that the protesters could do maximum damage if left unchecked.
“They are boys from Kabawa. They believe that there is nothing the Police can do to them.
They have not done anything now, but people will not allow them to steal things from them before they close their shops. They said they don’t want PDP at all in Lokoja again,” he said.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, Sola Adebayo, has yet to respond to calls made to his telephone as of the time of filing this report.
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