The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of inciting violence in Kogi and Bayelsa states with a view to causing confusion and to frustrate the electoral process and possibly impede the forthcoming governorship elections in the states.
The PDP stated the APC, having realized that it does not have the support of the electorates in the two states, especially given its unpopular candidates, is now employing devious machinations, including violence to terrorize the people, disrupt and eventually truncate the elections.
As stated by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday, the imprints of the APC could be felt in the sudden militancy in Kogi as well as the growing cases of political violence in Bayelsa ahead of the November 21 and December 5 governorship elections in the two states respectively.
The party said: “the APC has perfected a heinous plot to inject crisis in Kogi and Bayelsa, ostensibly to frustrate the electoral procedures within the constitutional time- frame, so as to prevent PDP candidates, Governors Idris Wada and Seriake Dickson from being re-elected into office”.
“We invite Nigerians to note that the build up to the militancy in Kogi has been long started by the APC and its candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, who has been fouling the state’s political environment with hate and inciting utterances, including threats to lives of PDP supporters and perceived political opponents.
“Intelligence information available to us indicates that the APC has been training and arming thugs to unleash mayhem and destabilize the state ahead of the election.”
PDP recalls that earlier in the month of October, one of the candidates directed thugs to attack and “kill” PDP supporters and those perceived to be opposed to the ambition of the APC in the state.
“Nigerians should therefore not be surprised at the sudden militancy in Kogi State. We know that the aim here is to infuse confusion, truncate the electoral process and eventually rig the poll in favour of the APC.
“Also, in Bayelsa State, the APC in its desperation for power has been heating up the system and arming thugs, apparently to cause crisis in the state polity, frighten the electorate and possibly derail the election to their advantage."