Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State have vandalized the party’s secretariat in protest against the alleged imposition of candidates for the upcoming November 1 local government elections.
The demonstration, which began peacefully on Tuesday, quickly escalated into violence as aggrieved party members pulled down the APC and Nigerian flags and destroyed property within the secretariat.
In a viral video, the protesters were heard chanting, “We are not doing!” as they stormed the party office.
Sources revealed that the council chairman, Iliyasu Zakari, narrowly escaped as the protesters rejected his bid for a second term.
The unrest follows Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s introduction of a consensus candidate selection process, where each LGA was required to nominate three candidates, leaving the final decision to him. However, the process has faced widespread criticism.
Yakubu Kuta, a former vice-chairman of Shiroro LGA, accused Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba of hijacking the process and imposing his aide as the party’s candidate.
Responding to the allegations, the deputy governor’s press secretary, Ummulkhatumi Abdullahi Kuta, dismissed the claims, stating that the candidate was chosen through a voting process.
