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Kogi Governor, Ajaka Trade Blames After Gun Attack – Lifestyle Nigeria
There was a clash Saturday between the campaign team of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yakubu Muritala Ajaka and the convoy of Governor Yahaya Bello.
Ajaka, a former national officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had dumped the ruling party and secured the governorship ticket of the SDP following his inability to get the APC ticket, which was clinched by Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The SDP’s candidate, an Igala from the Kogi East Senatorial District, is perceived to be one of the popular contenders in the November election.
He is also seen as the main challenger to Ododo, who is believed to be Governor Bello’s anointed candidate.
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that Kogi had witnessed electoral violence in the past.
During the November 2019 governorship election in the state, a report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) revealed that 10 persons were killed in 79 cases of violence recorded across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Violence was also recorded in Kogi during the February 25 presidential election. An instance was the killing of a young man, simply identified as Akayama, who was said to be gunned down by thugs who invaded Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of the state to cart away election materials.
There were also reports of violence at Mopa in the Kogi West Senatorial District and some areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District during the poll.
Saturday’s incident, it was learnt, happened around the Navy Quarters, near Lokoja, when Governor Bello was returning from Abuja.
