The Kogi State Police Command says suspected gunmen have attacked David Mike, secretary of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
In a statement on Wednesday, William Aya, police spokesperson in the state, said Mike was waylaid on Monday on his way to work while the gunmen made away with petition documents filed by four political parties.
The gunmen allegedly stole documents pertaining to petitions filed by political parties, including Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The attackers also carted away two record books and a bag containing the secretary’s personal items at gunpoint.
“On Monday, 04/12/2023 at about 1820hrs, one Mr David Umar Mike ‘m’ secretary to Kogi state governorship election petition tribunal along with Labode Apreala (f), confidential secretary and Hassimu Adamu assistant secretary, came to state criminal investigation department, Kogi state police headquarters and reported that on the said date, three of them left their hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs, heading to their office at the high court complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 car,” the statements read.
“That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind.
“All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse. He saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the petition documents.”
Aya added that Onuoha Bertrand, the state commissioner of police, had ordered a thorough and diligent investigation into the incident.
The Electoral Act provides that an aggrieved candidate has 21 days from the announcement of the results to file a petition at the tribunal.
However, it was learnt that aggrieved candidates have started filing petitions since December 2.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Usman Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kogi state governorship poll held on November 11.
Ododo polled 446, 237 votes to defeat his the first runner up and main opponent, Muri Ajaka, who garnered 259,052 votes while Dino Melaye, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 46,362 votes.
The Daily Crucible had earlier reported that Ajaka claimed he would not be challenging the outcome of the off – cycle poll in Kogi State, deeming it a time wasting venture but he has changed his mind and had proceeded to the Tribunal with petition according to sources close to him.
