Nigerian Newsday

By Smart Niyi, Gombe

A divisional police officer posted to the venue of the Gombe North Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state assembly primaries held penultimate Saturday at the Miyetti Cinema hall sustained injuries on his head as he was pelted with stones by angry youths protesting the refusal of security operatives to allow them into the venue.

According to our correspondent, the police had to fire tear-gas to disperse the youths. A police officer who pleaded anonymity said two of the youths were arrested immediately after they started throwing stones indiscriminately.

Commenting on the conduct of the elections in the state, the chairman of the electoral panel, Alhaji Muhammadu Shaba Lafiagi, said elections were hitch-free in other areas of the state.

The former Kwara State governor, while expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the primaries, said it was peaceful as in most areas candidates were returned unopposed based on consensus.

Meanwhile, the incumbent member of the State House of Assembly representing Gombe North, Alhaji Shehu Durbi, lost to a new aspirant, Alhaji Babayo Idaya by 13 to 231 votes.