The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday warned the Kogi State
Governor, Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the
gun attack at its governorship primary election in Lokoja, the state
capital.
Following the gunmen invasion of the venue of PDP primary election, Governor Bello had directed security operatives to get to the root of the matter
However, PDP alleged that Bello and APC’s decision to resort to
“violence and bloodletting” cannot save the failed governor and his
party during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party insisted that the “people of
Kogi state are firm in the irreversible resolve to use every means
available in a democracy to confront and vanquish APC’s evil plots ahead
of the November governorship election.”
The statement reads: “It is clear to all that Governor Yahaya Bello
has become chaotic in the face of his rejection by the people as well as
the soaring popularity of the PDP in Kogi state, and has now resorted
to violence in a failed desperate attempt to prevent our party from
presenting a candidate for the election.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP had a peaceful, decent, clean,
clear, credible and transparent process in the conduct of our primary.
Accredited delegates had voted and the balloting had been concluded in a
very orderly manner before the vicious attack by the gunmen, who were
shouting pro-Bello mantra and accompanied by known APC faces.
“The PDP only has pity for Yahaya Bello and the APC because our
processes are still intact and nothing can sway our resolve as well as
strong will by the people of Kogi state to kick them out of office in
November.
“This is more so as the attack has further united our governorship
aspirants, critical stakeholders, leaders and teeming members and
supporters across the state for a common front against Yahaya Bello and
the APC.
“Indeed, nothing can detract from this, as the attack has further
united and bolstered the people of Kogi state to remain behind our party
in the decisive struggle and the noble objective to liberate their
state from the violent and suppressive forces.
“Our message to Yahaya Bello and the APC is that their days in office
are already numbered and that they cannot stay a day beyond the
stipulated hand-over date.
“In resorting the violence and forceful occupation, the APC and
rejected Governor should have known the people of Kogi state have never
in history, bowed in subjugation to anybody no matter the force or
intimidation.
“That spirit of resistance to oppression and force has been triggered
and we caution the APC to steer clear of the wrath of the people, who
have decided to take back their state by voting in the PDP, come
November 16.”