APC Primaries: Officials Meant to Protect Lives Moved With Thugs — Agara

A frontline aspirant in the Nasarawa North Senatorial race under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Silas Ali Agara, has alleged widespread intimidation, violence and harassment during the party’s primary election, accusing some government officials of moving around with thugs instead of safeguarding lives and property.

Speaking during an interview on Option FM, Akwanga, Agara described the exercise as deeply troubling, insisting that the primary election was not worth the bloodshed and trauma allegedly experienced by party members across the zone.

According to him, the APC primary ought to have been conducted as a peaceful family affair but was instead overshadowed by violence and fear.

“It was supposed to be a family affair. However, I saw thugs around. The least we ought to have seen was a cancellation, but APC members were brutalized,” he said.

Agara disclosed that one of his supporters from Akwanga was rushed to Abuja for urgent medical attention after allegedly sustaining severe head injuries during the exercise.

“As of yesterday, we rushed a young man from Akwanga to Abuja because he was still bleeding from his head,” he stated.

The former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State further revealed that he attended the burial of a woman in Andaha whom he claimed died from shock arising from the election crisis.

“I was in Andaha for the burial of a woman who died from shock due to the election. This election is not worth the lives of the people,” he lamented.

Agara accused unnamed government officials, who he said ought to ensure the safety of citizens, of allegedly moving around with thugs during the primary.

“Government officials, who ought to protect lives, were seen moving around with thugs,” he alleged.

The APC chieftain also challenged Senator Ahmed Wadada Gyunka to visit his ward, Gwanje, and convince residents that a credible election actually took place there.

“I want to challenge Senator Gyunka to go to his ward, Gwanje, and tell them that an election took place there. I will sponsor his trip,” he said.

Responding to allegations concerning the presence of unfamiliar security operatives in the area, Agara urged the senator to direct questions to the local government chairman, whom he described as the chief security officer of the area.

He further alleged that some of his campaign officials and agents were intimidated and harassed by influential government figures during and after the exercise.

“Top government officers molested my Director General and my returning officials at the VIP. One of my agents, Obadiah, had a top government official go to his house with security and thugs to harass his wife in front of his children,” he alleged.

Agara also dismissed insinuations that his calm disposition after a stakeholders’ meeting suggested that the situation was normal, insisting that politics should never lead to violence or hospitalisation.

“They said it’s a family affair; yes, it’s a family affair. Should we come out with blood on ourselves? Should we come out with people traumatized from a meeting, with people being rushed to the hospital?” he queried.

He stressed that politics should be about service, hope and leadership rather than intimidation and violence.

“We are not in politics to bring harm to our people. We are in politics to provide leadership, to give our people hope, and to be role models, not to start taking our people to the hospital because of politics,” Agara added.