Army arrests govt. official, others for burning electoral materials in Benue

It was gathered that the council boss led the hoodlums in two buses to Apa ward in Agila district of the council, to destroy three polling units, believed to be the strongholds of the opposition.
Apa Agila Council Ward is the home and stronghold of the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Philip Agbese.
The Ado Council Chairman is the Director-General of the campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Miss Aida Nath Ogwuche.
According to sources, the Chairman and his alleged thugs razed electoral materials and BVAS machines at the affected polling units.
The hoodlums were, however, intercepted by the military while carting away election results from the polling units.
However, a source told our correspondent that the council chairman was granted administrative bail in the early hours of Sunday, February 26, 2023, following the intervention of a powerful politician from the federal constituency.
Some of the thugs were also released while three others caught with guns are still in police detention at the local government headquarters, Igumale, as pressure continues to mount on the security authorities to release them too.
“They carried out their evil act in Apa Agila where they successfully destroyed three polling units with the Local Government Chairman practically burning down election materials, including the BVAS machines,” the source said.
“Some have been released. The chairman was given Administrative Bail early hours of the day whilst three others caught with guns are still in police detention at Igumale,” he added.

Troops of the Nigerian military have reportedly arrested the Chairman of Ado Local Government Council of Benue, James Oche, alongside some thugs for alleged election malpractice and violence during Saturday’s polls.It was gathered that the council boss led the hoodlums in two buses to Apa ward in Agila district of the council, to destroy three polling units, believed to be the strongholds of the opposition.

Apa Agila Council Ward is the home and stronghold of the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Philip Agbese.

The Ado Council Chairman is the Director-General of the campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Miss Aida Nath Ogwuche.

According to sources, the Chairman and his alleged thugs razed electoral materials and BVAS machines at the affected polling units.

The hoodlums were, however, intercepted by the military while carting away election results from the polling units.

However, a source told our correspondent that the council chairman was granted administrative bail in the early hours of Sunday, February 26, 2023, following the intervention of a powerful politician from the federal constituency.

Some of the thugs were also released while three others caught with guns are still in police detention at the local government headquarters, Igumale, as pressure continues to mount on the security authorities to release them too.

“They carried out their evil act in Apa Agila where they successfully destroyed three polling units with the Local Government Chairman practically burning down election materials, including the BVAS machines,” the source said.

“Some have been released. The Chairman was given administrative bail early hours of the day whilst three others caught with guns are still in police detention at Igumale,” he added.