The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council (PDPPCC) in Kogi State has alleged that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is planning to clamp down on the opposition party’s leaders in the state ahead of the presidential election.
In a statement signed by Usman Austin Okai, the spokesman of the PDPPCC in Kogi on Friday, the body said it had been “reliably and creditably informed that the APC-led State Government is planning a massive clamp down, abduction and kidnap of PDP leaders and Stalwarts across Various Wards in the State in a bid to pave way for the manipulation and rigging of the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday February 16 2019 in their favour.”
However, the State Governor Yahaya Bello has denied the allegation, saying it is unfounded.
The PDPPCC in Kogi State had alerted the world, security agencies and particularly the Inspector General of Police of the planned clamp down.
“At the moment, the State Government, from reliable sources, is said to have mobilized and dispatched mobile policemen and armed thugs to all the Local Government Areas in the State in a bid to intimidate the electorate, oppress the opposition party which is fast gaining grounds and rig the elections.”
The Party hereby, calls on the Inspector General of Police, all Heads of security agencies and the international community to intervene in this undemocratic plan in a bid to ensure peace, security of lives and property during and after the forthcoming elections”, the PDPPCC said.
Reacting, Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor, Onogwu Muhammed debunked the allegations, saying it was unfounded and untrue in its entirety.
He urged the public to disregard what he described as “convoluted and invented story” by the PDP.
“They knew that the people of Kogi State have rejected the PDP and no amount of propaganda, falsehood can gain them public sympathy”, he said.
According to him, the governor had earlier issued a statement calling on the people of the state to conduct themselves in a peaceful and rancor-free manner during and after the elections, saying the governor had no reason to muzzle members of the opposition parties in the state.
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