Kogi state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for engaging in acts inimical to growth of democracy.
PDP decried Kogi state government’s request for 37.5million Naira form the main opposition party before it is allowed to display billboard and posters of its candidate in the ongoing electioneering campaigns.
In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Communications, Comrade Dayo Onibiyo, PDP described the move as political hostility.
PDP said from the letter dated 24th October this year, the room for payment will expire by November 10th, 2022, two days from the date of receipt of the letter.
“The party refers to the letter captioned ‘Demand Notice of N37.5m on Signage Fee for Your Party’s Campaign Posters Across Kogi State’ with reference number KGIRS/MDA/Vol. 13/13095, dated 24th October, 2022.
“The APC government under Yahaya Bello in the state slammed this figure on the PDP, through a letter dated 24th October, 2022 which the party received today, the 8th of November, 2022. The state government issued a notice of fourteen (14) days as ultimatum for such payments to be made and went ahead to threaten legal action against the party, as signed by Sule Salihu Enehe, the acting Executive Chairman for Kogi Internal Revenue Services (KGIRS).
The party said, “the harsh and unprogressive development is selective and targeted at PDP due to the party’s wide acceptability and rising profile that has put the APC in jeopardy, sending jitters down their spine.”
“In all our days in government, we never for once, denied any party, including the APC, the right or access to the right of expression or campaigns before, during or after elections.
“This is a sad, cruel and uncivilized approach to democracy in the 21st century by those who should know better. Why are they afraid?
“Despite global efforts to strengthen democracy, the APC in Kogi state is committed to killing it,” the statement said.
Onibiyo said the PDP cannot be stopped from winning the presidential and national assembly elections in the state come February 2023, adding that the party will reclaim Kogi state by November 2023 when the governorship election will be conducted.
The party, however, urged its teeming supporters to remain calm as the party will address the issue appropriately.
“The sack notice issued to APC is not reversible,” he added.
