1 dead, 4 arrested at chairmanship primaries [Graphic Photo]

November 10, 2016 10:58 PM

Four people have been arrested in connection to the mayhem which led to the death of one in Abia.

Chairmanship aspirants, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and Chief Uzoma Ihuka

The Abia Police Command has revealed that

The spokesperson for the command, Ogbonnaya Nta, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Thursday, November 10.

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According to Nta, the deceased identified as Onyemaechi, who was a member of the staff of Isialangwa North Local Government, the venue of the election which took place on Wednesday, November 9, died in a fire at the Chairman’s office.

NAN reports that the deceased died in the office fire set by aggrieved delegates. Nta said that the command arrested four persons in connection with the fracas.

According to eyewitness accounts, trouble began when some delegates who showed up at the council headquarters in Okpuala-Ngwa for the poll, rejected the list presented by the party’s officials that conducted the exercise.

NAN reports that the group threatened to disrupt the exercise claiming that the list was doctored in favour of a particular aspirant.

The agitation reportedly caused tension and confusion at the venue.

An eyewitness said that in the midst of the crisis, someone sneaked into the chairman's office with a can of petrol and set it ablaze.

“Somebody sneaked into the chairman’s office with a jerry can of petrol and set the place ablaze”.

“The intention was to burn the disputed list,” the account said, adding that the fire escalated, and killed one person on the spot.

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Nta also revealed that three other persons who were in the office sustained severe burns and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to him, the command has begun an investigation into the case.

The primaries, which were organised to elect the party’s flag bearers for the local government election slated for December 17, in the state, was brought to a stand-still in most of the 17 council areas due to violence.