Supporters of James Faleke and Yahaya Bello, late Prince Abubakar Audu’s running mate and runner up respectively, on Monday clashed at the national secretariat of their party, the All Progressives Congress, in Abuja.
Faleke and Bello are in contention over who will stand on the platform of the APC for the inconclusive Kogi State gubernatorial race.
It will be recalled that the vacuum for the party’s candidate was left open when Audu died on November 22, the day results of the election in the state were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Bello’s supporters arrived at the party’s secretariat at 11.30amchanting: “Sai Yahaya Bello.”
Faleke’s supporters arrived one hour later and both groups started to throw stones and sticks at each other before police reinforcement came.
The police was able to push back the two groups to opposite sides of the street where some were still chanting solidarity songs.
NAN reports that stones and sticks used during the fracas littered the street after of the protest.
The windows of many cars were smashed, including that of a reporter with African Independent Television covering the APC, Anoyoyo Oghiavboghe.
NAN reports that some National Working Committee members and leaders of APC, including Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State and Senator Dino Melaye, held an emergency meeting at the secretariat.
NAN.