APC faction decries attack on Zamfara PDP congress

• ‘Success signifies PDP’s control of state politics
• Let peace reign, ruling party tells opposition

The Senator Kabiru Marafa-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the violence on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during its congress in Gusau, Zamfara State.

Chaired by Mr. Sirajo Maikatako, the faction, in a statement by Mr. Bello Maradun, expressed concern that the ugly incident affected the Deputy Governor, Mahdi Gusau.

Describing the incident as barbaric, savage, desperate and primitive, it added that it behoves the police to thoroughly investigate the matter and make the perpetrators face appropriate sanctions.

“As democrats, we commend the opposition PDP on the maturity exhibited in the face of violence. We congratulate them on holding the congress and emerging with the new party leader in the state.

“Notwithstanding, we hope that the new leadership of PDP in the state will, in due course, understand the progressive ideals of APC, especially the commitment of Senator Marafa to building bridges beyond party lines to rescue Zamfara from the grip of insecurity,” it asserted.

While accusing thugs allegedly mobilised by Governor Bello Matawalle’s camp of APC as perpetrators of the violence, the statement distanced the Marafa from “undemocratic act against opposition groups.”

Also, the PDP condemned the attack allegedly sponsored by APC.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated, yesterday, in Abuja that “the success of the congress, despite the attack, shows that the PDP is in firm control of the state, even with Governor Matawalle’s defection to the APC.”

HOWEVER, Zamfara APC has told the PDP in the state not to create unnecessary chaos but should allow people to enjoy their peace restored by the Matawalle administration.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the spokesman, Yusuf Idris-Gusau, maintained that APC would not accept any breach of the peace by PDP’s sheer carelessness and unfair treatment of members.

He called on PDP supporters to imbibe internal democracy, fairness and consultations, which he described as key in politicking.

“PDP should borrow a leaf from how the APC handled its recent congresses, which held peacefully from the ward to the state level, with the new leadership receiving accolades from the state and beyond.

“We really need peace in our dear state and will not allow one political party, out of its failures, to stop this. We also wish to reassure members and supporters of our great party, the APC, that peace will continue to reign in our dear state and they should continue to be law-abiding.

“The PDP in the state should not involve APC in the crisis that engulfed its state congress, where some of its aggrieved members disrupted its congress because they refused candidate imposition, particularly those seeking chairmanship and secretary of the party,” Idris-Gusau said.