Group accuses APC of deploying threats, intimidation during campaigns in Borno

The Director-General, Centre for Justice on Religious and Ethnicity in Nigeria (CJREN), Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Kawu Dikwa, has alleged there threats in the campaign strategy deployed by the All Progressives Congress, APC in Borno State against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and made available to Newspot, Dikwa alleged that the PDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Ali Jajari was always intimidated and harassed during campaigns at IDP camps.

“We are drawing the attention of the Service Chiefs on the Borno state dirty campaign strategy by the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). Is it the APC that has the only right to campaign at the IDP camps in the state?

” The IDPs were told that if Mohammed Ali Jajari is elected a governor, Boko Haram will return to the state, therefore, destroying their lives and livelihood.”

The letter asked the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the international community to note that in Borno State, the campaigns were conducted in such a manner that they painted the PDP candidate in a bad light and favour the ruling APC in the state.

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”The ruling party did not allow a free playing ground for other political parties to campaign freely and tell the people what they want to do for the people if elected.

The statement also alleged that the APC used the security apparatus of the state to harass the PDP and stop them from campaigning freely in the local governments.

”The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in particular was the arm of the security that was used by the APC, and the APC did not also allow other parties place posters in the wards and communities in the state because they were being controlled by the CJTF.

”He alleged that ”At the Federal High Court junction at Polo, the PDP placed posters but were told to remove them by thugs who were paid by the APC leadership.

The group also alleged that during the PDP presidential campaign, some hired youths attacked supporters of the PDP and destroyed many cars and caused various degrees of injuries to many, adding that there were also restrictions in the state capital, Maiduguri, by the ruling APC party in the state.