The All Progressives Congress, Kaduna State Council, on Tuesday raised the alarm that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party is planning to cause violence in the state so that election would be held under curfew.
Spokesman of the Council, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, said the party was not surprised because of the desperation of the PDP to sabotage the election.
According to the APC, the party (PDP) plans to instigate violent actions and confrontations as a pretext to impose a curfew. He said this would lead to a suppressed turnout and therefore give them the opportunity to rig the forthcoming election.
Specifically in Kaduna State,”the PDP has arranged to ensure that cars emblazoned with the pictures of Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo are driven persistently through the known APC strongholds in the hope of triggering a reaction.
Aruwan said, “The APC has also hired and primed its thugs to act with a practice run, being staged at Ungwar Shanu last Sunday.
“However in the coming days, the PDP plans to put its thugs in APC attires so as to shift the blame for the nefarious, brutal and callous acts of violence they are planning.”
The APC, therefore, appealed to all its supporters to continue to ignore provocation, stay calm and report every act of violence, intimidation, harassment or threat.
“We are also alerting the general public to be vigilant. The APC requests all the security agencies to note and deter the PDP’s planned ambush of our people’s democratic will,” the party said.
Meanwhile, the PDP has urged the police in the state to call the APC governorship candidate to order for leading his supporters to pull down billboards and other campaign material of the party.
Chairman of the Yero/Bajoga Campaign, the PDP, Yakubu Lere, said in a statement that the PDP investigations revealed that there was a glaring intention by the APC candidate to cause protest, violence, commotion and destruction of lives and property during the coming elections on Saturday.
The statement said, “What he led his followers to do yesterday was in fact a rehearsal of what they intend to unleash on our peaceful members, supporters and even innocent electorate on Saturday.
“By this action, El-Rufai has confirmed popular opinion that he is training thugs to disrupt the general elections in Kaduna State, owing to the fear of imminent defeat. Besides, he knows that by all standards, he lacks the minimum moral requirements to be a governor of the state.
“We appeal that the Inspector-General of Police should call El-Rufai to order before he plunges the state into uncontrollable violence and flame.”
Copyright PUNCH.
