The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal commenced its inaugural sitting in Lokoja yesterday on a sour note, following a clash between the supporters of the? Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN).
The free-for-all, which caught security agents napping, took place outside the court premises, shortly after the end of the session.
Problem started when supporters of Prince Abubakar Audu, who came in their numbers, started cheering him, when he was coming out of the court, waving their brooms, the symbol of their party.
But the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, also started chanting, “Sai Wada” in reference to Alhaji Idris Wada, the PDP candidate that won the election,a development that led to rowdy scene, and subsequently, confrontation between the two rival parties.
Without warring,”missiles” started flying in all direction, resulting in the smashing of the windscreens of two vehicles, including that of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly,Hon. Abdullahi Bello.
The speaker who also attended the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, had to be whisked away by security agents,even as senior government officials,including commissioners and special advisers, stalwart of ACN and journalists scampered for safety.
The men of the State Security Service(SSS) as well as armed Mobile Policemen had to fire warning shots and teargas to restore normalcy and disperse the two warring groups.
Three people were also apprehended at the scene by the law enforcement agents, in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile,the chairman of the tribunal,Justice Suleiman Anbursa has assured that justice would be done to all parties.
Addressing litigants and lawyers the at sitting yesterday,Justice Anbursa said that despite insinuations in certain quarters, they would be guided by the rules of the game.
He pointed out that the issue raised by the opposition, concerning the assignment of the members in Lokoja,was purely political and insisted that they had nothing to do with politics.
Meanwhile, the ruling PDP in Kogi State and the ACN are accusing each other on the free for all fight that took place outside the High court, where the governorship petition tribunal held its inaugural sitting yesterday.