Alleged thugs, believed to be mainly from Okene Local Government and other areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District, have reportedly besieged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Lokoja.
Reports indicate that the group, numbering over 150 individuals, is currently posing a threat to set ablaze the office. The thugs, armed with weapons including AK47s, machetes, and cutlasses, are chanting aggressive slogans and have explicitly warned security personnel to keep their distance.
Residents in the vicinity of the INEC office, situated opposite the Post Office in the heart of Lokoja town, have reportedly evacuated the area due to the escalating threat. This incident follows previous reports last week hinting at plans to burn down the INEC office in Lokoja.
The heightened tension appears to be linked to the recent decision by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which granted approval to the opposing candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, to obtain Certified True Copies of the materials from the November 11 election.
As of the current report, the thugs remain in occupation of the INEC office, and there has been no apparent intervention from security authorities.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Ovye William Aya, for a response were unsuccessful as his contact was not connecting at the time of filing this report.
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