Suspected bandits on Sunday murdered Tersoo Ahu the ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboko South, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue, The Nation reported.

The gunmen, who were reportedly wielding cutlasses and iron rods, entered the venue of a membership revalidation programme, killing the politician in the process of disrupting the exercise, The Nation said.

Benue APC spokesman James Orgunga said Mr. Ahu sustained injuries but died at a public hospital in the area while undergoing treatment for his wounds.

Benue police spokeswoman Kate Anene said the gunmen fled the scene but assured that they would be arrested.

“Our men rushed to the scene but the suspects fled,” she said. “We have identified them and very soon we shall pick them up.”

APC membership revalidation exercise that commenced last week has continued to be married by widespread violence and irregularities.

There have been reports of violence in Kwara, Oyo and other areas where the controversial exercise was conducted. 

The violence prompted calls for its cancellation by Bisi Akande and other APC leaders, who condemned it as unnecessary and wasteful.

The deadly attack came weeks after Philip Shekwo, an APC chairman in Nassarawa State, was killed by armed assailants, prompting nationwide condemnation and renewed calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to do something about insecurity in the country.