The All Progressives Congress senatorial primary election in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District turned violent on Monday, with supporters of Governor Abdullahi Sule and former Deputy Governor Silas Agara clashing in various parts of the Akwanga Local Government Area.
The crisis began at the VIP Akwanga distribution center, where supporters of one of the aspirants were allegedly molested, beaten, and chased away. A similar incident occurred at the Central School, Akwanga East ward, where supporters exchanged blows.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as “pathetic”, with one supporter from Ancho-Nighaan Ward, Bayan Dutse, recounting how a group of youths attacked them, seized their phones, and beat them up after the election.
A returning officer who served at Agyaga electoral and simply identified himself as Mr. Jamu, returned to the collation center with blood and a head wound, and has since been hospitalised.
The situation in Akwanga is currently calm, but tense, with people gathered on the streets discussing the incident and condemning the violence.
In Nasarawa Eggon, a crisis erupted at Ende Electoral Ward between supporters of Governor Abdullahi Sule and Silas Agara.
Meanwhile, in Wamba Local Government Area, the electorate waited until evening without electoral materials or officials.
At the time of filling this report, officials of the party had yet to comment on the incident. The development has raised concerns about the credibility of the state’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule has won the Nasarawa Eggon ward of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area in the ongoing senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress in the Nasarawa North Senatorial zone.
He scored 2,570 votes, as announced by the returning officer of the ward, Thaddeus Maiyanga, on Monday, while his opponent and former Deputy Governor, Silas Ali Agara, scored 166 votes.
A total of 2,736 voters were accredited for the ruling party’s senatorial direct primaries in the ward to select the candidate for the 2027 general elections.
