The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said threat of violence will not save the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Governor Yahaya Bello from defeat in this Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State.
PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that its position was predicated on reported threats by Governor Bello and the APC to unleash violence and disrupt the party’s campaigns in Kogi Central senatorial zone.
The party condemned the violent attack on the state secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) allegedly by APC thugs and urged the Police to bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to book.
“As a party, we have on a good authority how Governor Bello and his agents have been threatening the lives of PDP leaders in Kogi Central, all in their failed bid to instill fear on the people and frustrate our campaigns in the area,” PDP stated.
The party told Bello and APC that nothing would stop its candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, from campaigning and consolidating the support in Kogi Central and across the state.
“The people of Kogi State are on the move with the PDP in their readiness to confront and dismantle the machinations of Yahaya Bello and no amount of violence and death threat can change this resolve,” the opposition party added.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the military hierarchy to note how Governor Bello was allegedly turning Kogi State into a theatre of war and making life unsafe in the state.
“Our party draws the attention of security agencies to reports that APC and agents of Governor Bello have a training ground for thugs in Kogi Central District, who would be later armed with dangerous weapons to perpetuate violence during the election.
“The PDP, therefore, charges the Inspector-General of Police and the military hierarchy to immediately call Yahaya Bello and the APC to order as well as take urgent steps to ensure adequate security to safeguard lives and property in the electioneering timeframe of the November 16 election in the state.
“Furthermore, the PDP demands the immediate arrest of the former ADC to Governor Bello, who has refused to leave Kogi State after he has been transferred to Lagos state.
“PDP’s demand is against the backdrop of reports that the former ADC is being used by Yahaya Bello to compromise the security architecture of the state and aid the APC to perpetuate violence and all sorts of manipulation in the electoral process.
“Our party urges the IGP to immediately arrest and relocate the said former ADC as the people of Kogi State are ready to confront any irresponsible officer who is working against their interest in this election,” PDP added.
