The ruling All Progressive Congress in Zamfara state has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of unleashing thugs on its members.
In a press conference, the Publicity Secretary of the party Yusuf Idris Gusau said the governorship candidate of the party Alhaji Dauda Lawal Dare has ordered thugs to destroy all vehicles with APC logo.
“You are aware that the governorship candidate of the main opposition PDP in our dear state has returned via a Court of Appeal Sokoto ruling of last Friday, having gone through an intraparty squabbles while the ruling APC was only a spectator”
“With the return of the PDP governorship candidate however, the peace that we were enjoying was thrown to the wolves as the party has began to unleash its terror groups on us”
“This was manifested on Monday when the PDP thugs blocked a vehicle that had His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle’s laminated pictures, destroyed it before setting it on fire with one of the arrested arsonists saying, he did what he did following the specific instruction by the PDP governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal Dare on them to burn all APC logo carrying vehicles in the state,” Yusuf said.
He said the suspect, Yusuf Aminu from Gangaren ‘Yar Rumfa of Gusau through a video clip told the police he committed the act to the satisfaction of his candidate, Dauda Lawal Dare.
“We at the APC however have always called for calm so that peace will reign but this is sadly going too far and being viewed as a sign of weaknesses”
“We want to sound a serious and categorical warning that what just happened should be the last time that the PDP or any of its sponsored miscreants would do to us with violence or criminal attitude”
“They know that we have the increasing capacity to face them anytime, anywhere and will be ready for any of their antics”
“The opposition PDP must know that no one has monopoly of troubles, if that is what they want, we also know their houses, their vehicles and even their movement”
“We have always supported both the government and security agencies in maintaining peace, law and order in the state and shall continue such support”
“But we won’t tolerate any further attack even in a verbal way from the PDP again especially when such attackers and hoodlums like the arrested Yusuf Aminu confessed to the police that they were deployed directly by Dauda Lawal Dare the party’s governorship candidate to do what he was arrested for”
“We are currently campaigning and soliciting votes from the electorate and they equally should be doing just that under a conducive political environment that has been provided by the focused leadership of governor, Matawalle,” he added.
When contacted, acting Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Zamfara State chapter Hon. Mukhtar Lugga dismissed the allegations and described them as baseless.
Lugga said the allegations by the APC was an ‘action of a political party that is losing relevance’.
Lugga noted that the rally held to welcome Dauda Lawal , the PDP flag bearer in the state last Monday was violence-free and blessed by a mammoth crowd.
“None of our members attempted to destroy even a single APC billboard, we are very surprised to hear this from them,” he added.
