The leadership of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are again in a verbal war, not on the outcome of the last September governorship election but on the alleged attack of the former’s secretariat in Benin City.
Newspot reports that PDP on Thursday alleged that a member of APC mobilised some youths to invade its secretariat.
A statement by Chris Nehikhare, the publicity secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee alleged that the thugs were led by a relative of the APC’s state youth leader.
Nehikhare said the invaders destroyed and carted away properties worth millions of naira.
He said the political thugs also destroyed doors, windows, and office equipment at the party’s Secretariat.
According to him, several electronics, computers and other valuable items were also carted away by the thugs, who ransacked the building with the plan to attack any person in the building.
While condemning the attack, he opined that it was a desperate and reckless attempt by APC to intimidate PDP and frustrate the party’s efforts at reclaiming its mandate stolen at the September 21 governorship election.
“It is quite disappointing and unfortunate that the APC, on Thursday, mobilised thugs to attack our party Secretariat in their desperation to frustrate and halt efforts by our great party to reclaim the mandate duly given to it by the Edo people at the September 21 governorship election.
“If the APC are confident that they won the election free and square and have nothing to hide, why are they jittery and mobilising thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat? This is barbaric and totally condemnable,” he said.
He urged the relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attack and ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.
He noted that PDP remains resolute and would not be intimidated or deterred in its pursuit of justice and the restoration of its mandate.
Nehikhare called on members of the party and supporters to remain calm and be resolute in the face of the provocations as the leadership of the party is exploring every legal channel to reclaim its mandate.
Reacting, the publicity secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, described the allegation as baseless and urged PDP to settle its internal crisis, warning that it should not drag the APC into its messy affair.
Uwadiae-Igbinigie opined that it was absurd to label those who allegedly attacked the PDP office as APC thugs, wondering if the thugs wore APC uniforms or had APC paraphernalia on them.
“APC government in the state has already embarked on a project the PDP government failed to carry out. We are still basking in the euphoria of our victory and putting the state on the right path.
“How can the PDP say that the thugs that attacked their party secretariat are those of APC? Did the people have anything on them to show that they are APC members? The allegation is baseless and there is no proof.
“The allegation is weighty and criminal in nature so the PDP should be sure they have proof before making the allegation. We will urge the PDP to sort out its internal problem and not drag the APC into it.
“The APC government in the state is already embarking on projects that the PDP failed to do. These are projects that will better the lives of the people,” he said.
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