Tension erupted in Kogi Central Senatorial District on May 21, 2026, following the disruption of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primary elections by suspected thugs allegedly linked to former Senator Ahmed Salau Ogembe.
Party members described the incident as a “daylight robbery of democracy,” alleging that armed men carted away sensitive election materials, forcing the exercise to a halt.
Viral videos circulating online reportedly showed the suspects making demands in Ebira language while chaos unfolded at the Kogi State ADC Secretariat. Witnesses said eligible voters had queued across several wards from early morning until mid-afternoon before learning that the electoral materials had been hijacked and taken to undisclosed locations.
Despite the disruption, Senator Ogembe, Kabiru Onimisi Attah, and others were later alleged to have declared themselves winners of primaries which party faithful insist never held.
