HoR by-election: Kwara PDP condemns police attacks on members

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has condemned the attacks on residences of some of its top members in Oke-Ero, Isin, Ekiti and Irepodun local government areas by armed security operatives deployed for Saturday by-election in the federal constituency.

In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Tunde Ashaolu, the party described the attacks as reprehensible, unwarranted and unjustifiable, stressing that the action of the security officials reeks of unprofessionalism and amounts to violation of human rights.

In what was a gestapo-like operation, a combined team of Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) invaded the residence of a PDP chieftain in Egosi community of Oke-Ero local government Chief Joseph Adeniyi, aka Azeez Egosi at about 2am today.

Chief Adeniyi narrowly escaped from the house but his son, who is a soldier was arrested and taken to unknown destination by the security officers. The security operatives also attacked the residences of some PDP stalwarts in Oke-Ero.

Likewise, the Chairman of PDP in Iwo ward of Isin local government area, which is the ward of the former deputy governor of Kwara, Prince Joel Ogundeji, was also arrested by the security men. A couple of our members in Ajase-Ipo have also been arrested.

The PDP views these attacks as are an act of impunity and attempt to suppress and intimidate our members ahead of the by-election holding tomorrow. With these needless attacks on our members, can President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC still claim to be acting under the rule of law?

When we alerted Nigerians and the international community that the APC-led Federal Government had perfected plans to clampdown on our members ahead of the election, some said we were raising a false alarm, but here we are today.

The FG and APC should, however, know that the PDP will never succumb to their desperate tactics and acts of intimidation. We remain resolute and very optimistic of winning the election.

The party calls on the good, law-abiding and peace loving people of Ekiti, Isin, Oke-Ero and Irepodun to remain calm and maintain order in the face of this scenario of terror orchestrated by the APC.

We also urge both local and international observers to appeal to President Buhari and the APC to stop these needless violations of human rights and abuse of state institutions. They should allow the people to exercise their rights by freely choosing their representative without fear or intimidation.