Supporters of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was chosen to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu in this weekend’s supplementary election in Kogi State and those of James Abiodun Falake clashed yesterday at the APC National Secretariat.
The supporters, carrying sticks and stones, tore at one another as policemen looked helpless and unable to curtail them.
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who arrived at the secretariat at about the time the supporters were beginning to go violent, abandoned his car at the gate and walked into the secretariat.
A few seconds later, Faleke arrived the scene, sparking off the fight between the supporters who started throwing stones.
Some carrying sticks started chasing one another.
An elderly man wearing a blue brocade with a cap to match was seen calling some of the protesters who were running away from the scene to return.
Some policemen took cover to avoid being hit by stones.
One of the vehicles on Faleke’s convoy was hit on the bonnet by a stone.
Mobile policemen were drafted to the secretariat.
Bello arrived the APC secretariat with his supporters at about 2.45pm and immediately went into the office of the National Secretary. His supporters practically blocked the gate, chanting Sai Yahaya Bello.
They carried placard.
As early as 9.00, security had been strengthened at the secretariat.
Visitors were restricted. Journalists were subjected to heavy security checks before being allowed into the secretariat.
The meeting of the party leadership with stakeholders of the party in Kogi State, which was earlier scheduled to begin at about 10.00a.m., did not start until about 4.00pm.
At the meeting were Bello, Faleke, El-Rufai, who was chairman of the panel that conducted the Kogi governorship primary of the party, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Mohammed Okhiare, among other APC leaders from the state.