Kogi Gov’ship Election Petitions Stolen From Tribunal Secretary

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed an attack on Mr David Umar Mike, the secretary of the state governorship election Tribunal in Lokoja.

Gunmen seized sensitive petition documents related to the recent gubernatorial election in the state during this incident.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, the attackers took away all the petition documents filed by five political parties, including petitions from Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), as well as personal items belonging to Mr Mike.

According to the police, “On Monday, 04/12/2023 at about 1820hrs, one Mr David Umar Mike ‘m’ Secretary to Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal along with Labode Apreala (f) Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu Assistant Secretary, came to State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Headquarters and reported that on the said date, three of them left their Hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs, heading to their Office at the High Court Complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 Car.

 “That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind. High court complex in Lokoja. 

Mr Mike, Labode Apreala, and Hassimu Adamu reported the incident to the State Criminal Investigation Department. They described being blocked by an SUV and surrounded by heavily armed, hooded men who seized their documents after firing shots into the air.

The State Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and urged the public to refrain from making statements that could bias the ongoing investigation. 

However, both the SDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded accusations regarding the attack, with the SDP alleging hired political thugs’ involvement and the APC suggesting the incident was staged.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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