All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly aspirant Sumaila Muhammed Attah Enjema narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt at Halims Hotel in Lokoja during a stakeholders’ meeting on the Ankpa II constituency election. Three suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the incident.
Sources said the aspirant was nearly shot at close range by a suspected gunman identified as Bobby Achiever before a police officer attached to the venue intervened and foiled the attack. The incident caused panic among attendees as security operatives moved in to restore order.
The three suspects arrested were identified as Bobby Achiever, Obobo 7 and Ododo Mohammed. They were taken into police custody in Lokoja for interrogation, while weapons including guns, an axe and cutlasses were reportedly recovered from a vehicle linked to one of the suspects.
Sources linked the alleged attack to rising tensions within All Progressives Congress over the selection of a consensus candidate for the Ankpa II Assembly seat, with claims some party members were attempting to downplay the incident.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Kogi State Police Command and APC leadership were unsuccessful, but the incident has raised concerns over political violence and internal party wrangling ahead of elections in Kogi State.