Ekiti guber primary turns violent as thugs  halt voting

Voting in the  governorship primary  of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State was disrupted on Saturday  by some hoodlums at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti,  venue of the exercise.
The protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials to compromise the process.
It is believed the protesters were sponsored by some aspirants who believe that Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would eventually get the votes of majority of the delegates.
The protest, which turned violent, led  to  party officials, aspirants and their followers as well as journalists  run for safety as gunshots were heard in and around the stadium.
Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, who is leading the team  conducting the  primary election, had earlier said  that the initial downpour would not  stop the exercise.
He stressed  the readiness of his team to provide a level-playing ground for all the 33 aspirants participating in the primary.
Almakura, however,  enjoined the aspirants  to maintain decorum throughout the period, saying nothing was too much to sacrifice in the interest of the party.
Opeyemi Bamidele, a former federal lawmaker and aspirant, also said that he was satisfied with the tight security arrangement put in place for the primary.
He also pledged his readiness to abide by the outcome of the exercise.
Because of the crisis, voting, which started about  4:30 pm,  was suspended till further notice.