The Kogi state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Gabriel Longpet on Friday escaped assassination attempt at his residence.
Gunmen attacked the residence of the REC at about 3.30am in Lokoja, the state capital, INEC has reported in a statement.
“The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived.
“While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle. A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence.This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state office.
“We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for our personnel and assets in Kogi State,” the statement said.
The attack came few days after the INEC office in Lokoja was attacked by supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a protest which had started peacefully.
The protesters stormed the state secretariat of INEC in the early morning of Wednesday, protesting against alleged “INEC’s tampering with election materials.”
Security agencies, however, moved in on time to prevent an attack on the INEC office, dispersing the protesters with tear gas and barricading the road leading to the office.
Following the Wednesday event, the Kogi state commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Onuoha warned troublemakers not to create problems for Kogi since the election had come and gone peacefully.
“We thank God that the off-cycle governorship election in Kogi has come and gone peacefully, and we don’t expect anyone to cause any problems for us.
“As a security agency, we are imploring the politicians and INEC to follow the legal constitutional process since the issues are being handled by the Election Petition Tribunal.
“I was taken aback when some SDP protesters filed out with various placards, trying to barricade the INEC.
“I had to address them against that and urge them to go away and use the tribunal to address whatever grievances they had so as not to create problems for our peaceful state,” he said.
