The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council for the Kogi State
governorship election has raised the alarm over the influx of armed
thugs into the state, alleging that they are in to thwart the November
16 election.
It has also called for the removal of the Commissioner of Police in
the State, Hakeem Busari, for his alleged bias in the build up to the
election.
A statement by the Deputy Director of Publicity of the council, Austin
Okai, on Wednesday noted that the council had alerted the military
special operation, “Ayem Akpatatuma” and other security agencies about
the development.
The party urged the security agencies not to allow the armed thugs
into the state, accusing the All Progressives Congress and the state
government of sponsoring the thugs in order to prevent the people of
the state from voting for candidates of their choice
“The influx of armed thugs is a direct affront by the current
administration to cause mayhem on the hapless electorates, knowing
full well that the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello will lose the
election by November 16,” the statement said.
The council also accused the police commissioner in the state of
turning a blind eye to the development as he was in the knowledge of
what is happening in the state.
It also alleged that the heavily armed thugs had started arriving from
neighbouring states of Benue, Edo, Ondo , Enugu and Lagos with Agatu
warriors from Benue fully on the list of mercenaries hired to kill and
maim the innocent people during the exercise
Mr Okai said the PDP is calling on the security agencies to be
professional in their approach and do a search of some hotels in the
state where the thugs are allegedly being lodged.
He alleged that the state government had designated their arm caches
in federal constituencies ranging from Lokoja, Kabba, Okene,
Ajaokuta,Yagba east, Adavi, Ankpa, Anyigba, Idah in hotels and
government lodges where the hoodlums are kept under a guarded police
cover, to carry out their operations spread across the 21 local
government areas.
“The party alerts the international community like Amnesty
international, UNIDO, US embassy and the UK to beam its searchlight on
Kogi election, as the current governor has declared war on the people
of the state to win the election at all costs .
According the council, the pre-election crises, the kidnap, attacks,
abduction and killings that would serve as a prelude to the main
mayhem, had commenced in earnest.
Okai said the council had the information that the thugs would be
wearing fake police and army uniforms on the eve of the election to
cause trouble in Kogi East and Kogi west.
But the police command in the state has denied the allegations by the
PDP, saying the Commissioner of Police has been professional in the
treatment of all political parties.
The police spokesperson, Williams Aya, in a telephone interview told
Premium Times that the police was yet to receive any information about
the invasion of thugs into the state.
“We have not received any information that thugs are invading the
state,” said Mr Aya. “But we are monitoring the situation and we are
working to ensure that the electorates are secure during and after the
election.”
With regards to the call for the removal of the Commissioner of
Police, Mr Aya said the allegations were baseless as the CP had
embraced all the parties.
“He was at the rally of the PDP throughout and also attended the rally
of the APC,” Mr Aya said. “He is doing his job professionally.”
