PDP Speaks On Attack On Atiku’s Campaign Convoy In Borno

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the attack on the campaign convoy of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Naija News reported that scores of Atiku’s supporters were injured when hoodlums attacked their convoy in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The campaign convoy was attacked just as the former Vice President left the Palace of the Shehu of Borno to Ramat Square, the venue of the presidential rally.

It was gathered that the injured persons have since been rushed to hospitals in the state capital.

Reacting to the attack in a statement on Wednesday, the PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba claimed the attack was carried out by armed thugs sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ologunagba said the attack has confirmed the APC’s frustration, bitter envy, and disconcertedness over the overwhelming popularity” of its presidential candidate.

He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to immediately address the constant incidents of violence suffered by the opposition party.

The statement read, “Our party has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilised the thugs with the aim to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its presidential rally in the state.

“Nigerians witnessed with horror how hundreds of APC’s armed thugs stationed at major roundabouts and intersections in the city of Maiduguri unleashed violence on the PDP presidential campaign convoy and innocent citizens going about their lawful activities in a gruesome attack that left over 70 persons gravely injured and hospitalised.

”The attack was consistent with “APC’s habitual resort to violence in the face of rejection by the people as also witnessed in the attack on the PDP’s presidential campaign rally in Kaduna State on October 17, 2022.

“APC’s barbaric and anti-social behaviour is contrary to the Peace Accord it signed on September 28, 2022, and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, our electoral process, and the 2023 general elections.

“It is clear that the APC has since become confused, frenetic, and chaotic following the daily mass exodus of its key members into the PDP across the nooks and crannies of the state as witnessed at the PDP presidential campaign rally today in Maiduguri in support of Atiku and a clear rejection of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

“The PDP commends the brave and courageous people of Borno State for coming out en masse to resist the APC thugs and ensure the success of the PDP’s presidential campaign rally in support of Atiku.

“Our party is not daunted and cannot be deterred by cowardly attacks by the APC as Nigerians are already connected with the PDP’s issue-based campaign in the mission to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation from the asphyxiating misrule of the APC.

“The PDP calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action to arrest these constant incidents of violence being unleashed by the APC on PDP campaign activities.

“It should be noted that continued violence by the APC can result in a situation where other parties might be encouraged to resort to self-help.

“Once again, we call on President Buhari, as a matter of urgency and consistent with his oath of office, to call the members of his party, the APC to order in the interest of the nation, our democracy and the electoral process. Enough is enough.”