The Secretary of the Media and Publicity Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Tom Ohikere has reacted to the latest outbreak of violence at the party’s campaign rally yesterday in Ankpa, describing it as a clear show of the intimidation tactics of their main opponent, the People Democratic Party (PDP).
Ohikere said the PDP wants to frustrate their campaign activities, particularly in Kogi East because of the great acceptability of the governor and his deputy in areas they adjudge should be amenable to them.
Ohikere stated this when he addressed journalists in Lokoja.
He said: “We have said it before now. We have been raising this alarm. Of the plans of violence by the PDP. Of the recruitment, importation and arming of thugs to intimidate our supporters, unleash mayhem and create an ambience of fear and suspicion”.
“The attack in Ankpa at our rally is a clear demonstration of their tactic, to coerce, to bulldoze the people not to voice or show their support for the governor and his deputy’s re-election quest”.
“We can see the trail of violence and blood bath they have been leaving along their trail. You can see the recent arrest of their members for stockpiling arms, all this is an attempt to subvert the will of the people”.
“We cannot continue like this, this is just an election, where they should appeal to the electorates as we to should as his our right. I have said it times and again, violence does not win elections and the APC intends to legitimately seeks the mandate of the people, as it has been doing. So we shall continue to abide by the code of a free, peaceful and peoples oriented campaigns.
“I am reiterating that the police and other security and intelligence agencies should be pro-active in pre-empting, investigating, arresting and preventing such scenario. We know the PDP, that used to be their tactic and way. But we know that despite that the APC defeated them in 2015 as we shall do in 2019 with the peoples support.
