Sources on the ground informed that at the centre of the mayhem are boys supporting PDP Yakurr/Abi House of Reps candidate, Bassey Ewa and his Labour Party opponent, former CR Chief of Staff, Alex Egbona. While it was difficult at press time to pin point a single incident that may have escalated the violence, several sources who spoke to www.calitown.com are insisting that a disagreement may have started at some point, leading to the taking down of posters and billboards of the contestants by both sets of supporters. At some point, sporadic gunfire could be heard in some parts of Ugep, just like a few cars were vandalized. Unconfirmed sources say five persons were also shot.
It is believed that the battle for the political soul of Ugep, whose voting strength is a major deciding factor in the Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency, is the main reason for this negative show of strength. Considered in times past as Ewa’s stronghold, recent political events still seem to show that Egbona has made strong political inroads into the community. However, one source who called www.calitown.com from Ugep expressed sadness “that Alex and Bassey have left their respective communities to come and ginger their supporters to violence in Ugep. What is wrong with Bassey gingering his brothers in his own community and Alex too, so that the things they destroy would be theirs. Ugep is not good enough for any political position, according to Imoke’s calculation, but his acolytes can come here and shop for votes while leaving a trail of blood and destruction; time will soon tell”, the source added.
Ewa, seeking to return to the House of Reps for the third time, was surprisingly preferred by Imoke, over and above Egbona, his erstwhile Chief of Staff. Egbona, on the strength of Imoke’s preference for Ewa, left the PDP and headed to Labour Party, campaigning rigorously and garnering support by the day. Political watchers are insisting that Egbona’s chances are bright, even though it is difficult to say if the outcome of the elections will reflect the real will of the people.
Attempts to speak with the local authority were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.
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