Kogi Guber: SDP urges FG, IGP, to investigate political violence in Kogi.
IDRIS AHMED, Lokoja.
The Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Kogi state chapter, has urged the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police, to as a matter of urgency set up a probe panel to look in the allegations of political violence in the state.
Reacting to the accusation of political violence in the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC), levelled against the party, SDP, Director General of the Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Campaign Council, Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu Enape, described the allegation as false and attempt to cover up the true situation.
Addressing a press conference held at state secretariat of the SDP on Tuesday, Alhaji Enape, said the Social Democratic Party in Kogi state and its candidate, Alhaji Muritata Yakubu Ajaka, have been conducting their activities and campaigns in the most peaceful manner.
He explained that the SDP and its Governorship candidate have no thugs and don’t move with any, except security personnel attached to him for safety during the campaigns.
The Director General said the party and members have been law abiding, followed due process during campaigns, when allowed, as was the case in Koton karfe last week Friday.
He however accused the Police Commissioner in the state, Bertrand Onuoha, of bias as he is no longer neutral in the discharge of his responsibility.
Alhaji Enape also alleged that the Kogi state Police Command intentionally granted permits to SDP and APC to hold rallies at the same time in Koton karfe, which led to the violence that claimed a life with several citizens injured.
He clarified that the Police in the state continue to invite Alhaji Ajaka for investigation or interrogation, despite the subsisting Court order that restrains it from arrest, intimidations and molesting him throughout the period of election.
The Campaign Council Director General noted that the actions of the police in the state were geared towards placing encumbrance to the SDP candidate in reaching out to the electorate, however assured that his party will continue to campaign untill election is won in November.
Also narrating the ordeal of the SDP leadership and supporters, the Director of security for the SDP Campaign Council, Brigadier General Benjamin Ibiyemi (rtd), disclosed that on several occasions the APC thugs were unleashed on their convoy and the Police will turn around to blame SDP.
He alleged that on the fateful Friday at Koton karfe, fully armed APC thugs invaded the venue of the SDP rally and vandalized all the equipment including canopies chairs and public address system that were already mounted waiting for the arrival of the Governorship candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.
After chasing away thousands of the SDP supporters from the venue of the rally, APC thugs laid siege in an ambush on Lokoja — Abuja road where on sighting the convoy of the candidate, opened fire, shooting sporadically, the Director of Security recounted.
He alleged that APC thugs bearing sophisticated arms misused the weapons as they were not trained on weaponry, there by killing the lady.
Brig. Ibiyemi, however urged the Inspector General of Police to investigate the sources of the APC weapons , now being turned against innocent citizens.
