APC Speaks On Sending Gunmen To Attack SDP Supporters At Kogi Campaign Rally

Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the allegations of sponsoring thugs to attack the Social Democratic Party (SDP) rally in the state.

Naija News reported earlier that there was a commotion in Ejule, a community in the Ofu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, on Wednesday, after gunmen reportedly stormed the venue of the SDP governorship rally and started shooting at party supporters.

Though there was no record of killing, reports revealed that scores of persons were injured in the sporadic shooting allegedly led by an APC chieftain in the district.

“Some gunmen allegedly attacked and dispersed a Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship ward rally in Lejule, at the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“The gunmen, allegedly led by one Mohammed Alfa, said to be the assistant state chairman of the APC Kogi East District, descended on the rally venue at St. Mathew primary school Lejule and started shooting sporadically to disperse a mammoth crowd of SDP supporters that gathered at the event,” TVC News said in a report earlier.

Confirming the attack in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday morning, the Director of Communications of the Muri/Sam SDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu, said: “Earlier at about 9: 30a.m., about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence, the thugs descended on the St Matthews primary school venue and destroyed the canopies, public address systems, chairs and the podium arranged for the event.

“But SDP leaders in the locality led by Elder Obolo, Rabi Emaiku and Gambo Haruna encouraged supporters to ignore the intimidation and still show up for the rally.

“The moment supporters began trooping to the rally ground, a group led by a motorcade again unleashed the thugs, this time shooting sporadically.

“Several persons were injured in the course of the mayhem, while the thugs equally destroyed several vehicles they identified as belonging to SDP supporters. This is the second time that an SDP rally will be attacked by identified aides of an opposition party official leading thugs in less than two weeks,” Adejoh-Audu added.

The SDP campaign director alleged that a similar attack was carried out at an SDP rally in Koton Karfe in Kogi LGA on Sept. 29.

APC Reacts

Reacting, however, to the claims that APC sponsored the attack, the spokesperson for APC Campaign Council in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said the allegations were untrue as the party had no hand in the attacks.

“We are not ready to join issues with SDP because doing so is glorifying them more so that we won’t be dragged into their frivolities, gasping lies and lack of direction.

“As a government, our concern and responsibility is to create an enabling environment for all to pursue their normal businesses.

“We are a government, and our priority is to protect all the people of Kogi irrespective of political leanings,’’ Fanwo noted in a statement issued on Thursday morning.