Angry youth demonstrating yesterday in Akwa Ibom burned a police station and also destroyed property worth several million naira. According to an eyewitness, police officers loyal to a particular politician allegedly stole election materials in a primary election. These angry young people took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction.

The young protesters went down to the police station, destroyed property on the site and set fire to the building. Some of the irate youths were heard shouting “Akpabio leave Oron o” while some of the protesters displayed placards reading: “Akpabio stay clear from Oro Federal House issues” as they showed resistance to Akpabio’s alleged imposition of candidates on the people.

The protest, which began at the Uya Oro junction, was suppressed by anti-riot police who prevented the rioters from provoking a new crisis. It was established that Victor Antai, who had resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected with Godswill Akpabio to the APC, intended to seize the Senate ticket.

However, Antai was disqualified from contesting, paving the way for Nelson Effiong to get the ticket unopposed. Subsequently, Akpabio is alleged to have smuggled in Antai’s name as the candidate for the Oron Federal constituency position, despite Antai not picking the form for the race.