Properties worth millions of naira, including the Divisional Police Office in Okobo local government area, were destroyed when angry youths brandishing placards marched on major streets of Oron federal constituency protesting alleged moves by Senator Godswill Akpabio to substitute the name of the winner of the Federal constituency primaries with his preferred nominee.
The protest started at Uya Oro junction, was quelled by anti riot policemen who prevented the rioters from fomenting crisis.
Free spending philanthropist, Robinson Ebumoh won the primaries of the APC but his name was seen missing on the list allegedly approved by the state chapter of the party, which carried the name of former Commissioner for Culture, Victor Antai.
The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions, Akpabio Leave Oro Nation Alone, among others, vowed to resist his imposition in the area.
Victor Antai, who resigned from the PDP following his dwindling fortune in the Senate race for Eket Senatorial District, jumped ship with Godswill Akpabio to the APC, with the intention of grabbing the Senate ticket.
However Antai was disqualified from contesting, paving the way for Nelson Effiong to get the ticket unopposed.
Subsequently, Akpabio is said to have smuggled in his name as the candidate for the Oron Federal constituency position, despite Antai not picking the form for the race.
This meddling accounted for the re-ignition of the age long bicker between Oro people and Senator Akpabio who they accused of neglecting them for eight years, when he held away.
The crises subsequently exploded later in the day in nearby Okobo local government, as the APC members stormed the Okopedi divisional office of the Nigeria Police to register their annoyance over the alleged carting away of electoral materials meant for the House of Assembly primaries in the area.
Some buildings were gutted in flames and documents and property vandalised.
No police statement on the incident could be obtained as at press time.
