APC Presidential Primaries: Voting Suspended Over Rigging

Voting exercise at the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary was briefly suspended.

The suspension was announced at exactly 03:15am after former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi complained of irregularities to the electoral officers manning the polling votes.

The chief electoral officer, Atiku Bagudu consequently ordered that the voting exercise be put to a halt while also tasking the security agents to clear the area.

He further directed that only security agents and agents of aspirants, who should be two each, be allowed around the voting corridor after a proper clearance had been made.

Despite the announcement, arguments persisted as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambblazzau and former Senator from Lagos State, Ganiyu Solomon engaged in heated argument over the development.

Abdullahi Sule, Nassarawa state governor, later intervene and calmed down the situation.

This was as delegates and supporters of one of the aspirants, Dave Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State, accused the electoral officers of manipulation.

They accused the officers of speaking South Western dialect and directing those voting on what to write.

Delegates were asked to simply write the name of the aspirant they want, forcing some who are not schooled enough to require help.

It was in that process that accusations and counter accusations of rigging began, thereby forcing a halt to the voting exercise.

Voting later resumed.