The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday alleged that Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello sent gunmen to disrupt its governorship primary election in Lokoja, the state capital.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the governor’s resort to “violence and bloodletting” could not save the failed governor and his party during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
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.”
“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.”
The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP had a peaceful, decent, clean, clear, credible and transparent process in the conduct of our primary.
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“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.”
