PDP Rallies: Party seeks arrest, prosecution of attackers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Mohammed Monguno (rtd) to reassure Nigerians about Federal Government’s commitment to ending political thuggery by ensuring that those, who attacked its rallies in Kaduna, Borno and Gombe, are arrested and prosecuted.

The party also condemned the reported withdrawal of security aides to its governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal.

Spokesperson to Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Friday, said bringing those, who attacked its rallies in Kaduna, Borno and Gombe to book, will serve as very strong deterrent to perpetrators of electoral violence and their backers.
It lamented that ahead of the 2023 general elections, its presidential campaigns had been at the receiving end of violators in spite of the decent campaigns of Atiku.

“It is, therefore, imperative to state that unless those responsible for the violence against our campaigns and supporters are made to face justice, even the warning by the NSA will not be taken seriously by the perpetrators,” the opposition stated.

On the threat to its leaders in Zamfara State, the PDP claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) being disoriented by increasing the popularity of the its candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections has scaled up its vicious assault and clampdown on PDP candidates and other patriotic Nigerians in an attempt to silence PDP’s leaders and halt the daily acceptance of the party’s message of hope.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Friday, there are credible information of how the PDP Senatorial Candidate and Director-General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Zamfara State, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Captain Bala Mai Riga and other notable members of the PDP were hounded, arrested and illegally held in dehumanising detention facilities by the police reportedly on the orders of Governor Matawalle.

He said, “Our party has also been made aware of plots by the Gov. Matawalle-led APC administration to arrest and detain the PDP governorship candidate in Zamfara, Dr. Dauda Lawal,” the party alleged.
It alerted that the security operatives attached to Lawal have been withdrawn, saying, “Our party believes that this action by the APC is a deliberate design to expose our governorship candidate to harm’s way and undermine his ability to campaign and engage the good people of Zamfara on his security and economic agenda for the state in line with the PDP’s mission to rescue and rebuild our country.”

He claimed that also marked for arrest and detention were Zamfara State PDP Acting Chairman, Mukhtar Lugga, serving members of the National Assembly – Hon. Suleman Gummi, Hon. Shehu Fulbe and other leaders such as Col. Bala Mande, Salisu Maibuhu Gummi and Ahmed Garban Yandi in a heinous plot to put them out of circulation ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He continued: “Other notable PDP leaders reportedly listed for arrest include Farouk Rijiya; Abubakar Rawayya; Zangina Abdullahi; Mugira Yusuf; Usman Nahuche; Yarbachaka Haruna; Bashir Shehu; Usman Mafara; Ahmed Mairiga; Col. Yandoto; Nagambo Anka; Comr. Sale Maradun; Abba Oando; Suleiman Bukuyum; Rabiu Bakura; Mani Kotorkoshi; Maryam Buba; Abdulmajid Anka and Zayyanu Gusau among others who are now being hounded by APC agents.” 

The PDP demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Captain Bala Mai Riga and other members of the PDP who were illegally arrested and detained reportedly on the orders of Governor Matawalle.
The PDP also charged the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore the withdrawn security details attached to the PDP Governorship Candidate in Zamfara State and take urgent steps to ensure the provision of adequate security for PDP members in the state in line with the Constitutional duty of the police to the Nigerian people.