Victoria Mgbanwa
President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police (IG) have been urged by The Social Democratic Party (SDP) to call to order the Kogi Commissioner of Police (CP) over his attitude towards its governorship candidate.
The Chairman of, the SDP Campaign Council, Kogi East, Mr. Hassan Yakubu, made the call, during a press conference.
Mr Hassan added that the statement of the CP, Onuoha Bethrand, was wrong and also against the party and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka.
He stated, “As a party, we are neither comfortable nor happy with such a blanket statement of lies and indictment coming from an institution that is supposed to be neutral.
“But what the public should know is that we had police and DSS approvals for the rally at Koton Karfe, where opposition party’s thugs attacked us and ended up killing one of their own.
“There are videos on how thugs invaded our campaign venue, destroyed chairs and canopies even at the palace of the traditional ruler our candidate visited.
“But for the state commissioner of police to turn round and accuse our party with emphasis on our candidate is uncalled for.
“We are calling on the president and the IG to call the CP to order because we are no longer safe with his attitude towards us,” he said.
Ajaka had refused to honour invitations for discussion and was causing crises in the state. He explained that it became more serious when the CP claimed that SDP’s rally of Sept. 29 was without police permission.
The party has always been on the defensive side following series of attacks unleashed on its supporters even when “we operate by the rules and Electoral Act.” the campaign council chairman explained.
He further said that the police must change its attitude towards SDP to enable it participate fully in the Nov. 11 governorship election and emerge victorious considering the pedigree of its candidate.
Yakubu explained that the party was sure of victory at governorship election and described the followership of Ajaka as massive across the state.
He explained further that, “For the record, several invitations extended to the SDP and ADC Candidates for interaction and consultation with the Police to shed light, provide explanations and give their own side of the story on Petitions written against them were to no avail.
“His (SDP Candidate’s) refusal to deal with the police is undermining peace in the state, has been impeding efforts to stream-line and regulate political activities.
“It has in turn, greatly contributed to the pockets of political violence being witnessed in the State presently. His riding rough-shod and engaging in political brinkmanship and brigandage is an ill-wind that blows no one any good,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CP through the Command’s Public Relation Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, had issued a press statement on Sunday accusing SDP and its candidate of some infractions in the state.
