Supporters vandalise APC secretariat in Niger

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 November 1 local government elections.

The protest, which started peacefully on Tuesday, turned violent as angry members pulled down the APC and Nigerian flags and destroyed party property.

In a video, the protesters chanted, “We are not doing!” as they stormed the party office.

It was gathered that the council chairman, Iliyasu Zakari, narrowly escaped as members rejected his second-term bid.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had earlier announced a consensus process where LGAs would nominate three candidates, with him making the final selection. However, the process has been widely criticized.

Yakubu Kuta, a former vice-chairman of Shiroro LGA, alleged that Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba “hijacked the process and imposed his own aide as the candidate.”

In response, the deputy governor’s press secretary, Ummulkhatumi Abdullahi Kuta, denied the allegations, insisting the candidate emerged through voting.