PDP is employing violence to frustrate our petitions at tribunals – ACN

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has alerted security agencies and all lovers of democracy to the use of violence by the PDP in several states to frustrate its (ACN) petitions at the various election tribunals across the country.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the most recent instance of such cases of violence was recorded in Jigawa on Thursday, when the ACN chairman in the state, Dr. Abubakar Fulata, and over 50 party members were attacked by thugs after the day’s sitting of the state election petition tribunal.

‘’These thugs, who were armed to the teeth with various weapons, were led by the PDP chairman in the state, Ahmed Isa Duniya Bahutu; Chief of Staff to Governor Aminu Ibrahim Ringim as well as Muhammadu Daguro.

‘’They physically attacked and manhandled our Jigawa state chairman, even as well-armed policemen looked on without making  any arrest. Even one Garba Liman, the PDP chairman from Birnin Kudu local government, who was arrested by the SSS, was quickly released on the orders of the state government.

The attacks did not spare other members of the ACN, most of whom sustained serious injuries, including one with a broken arm,’’ it said.

ACN said the main purpose of such attacks is to intimidate the party and force it to abandon its petitions, when party members realise their lives are in danger every time they appear at the tribunal.

“As every one knows, ACN is not a violent party. We believe in using constitutional means to protest any hijacking of our mandate, instead of engaging in street battles. But when this channel is closed by a virulent and anarchic party hell bent on using foul means to  keep an illegal mandate, the outcome can only be chaos and anarchy.

‘’This is why we are crying out now, so that all those concerned can act urgently to stem the tide of unpleasant scenarios resulting from the impunity of the PDP acting, as always, with the collusion of an ever-pliable police and other security agencies,’’ the party said.

It said similar acts of intimidation have been employed against the ACN chapters in several other states, including Benue, where ACN members are being maimed and killed by agents of the PDP-led state government just so our party in Benue can abandon its petition against the election of Gov. Gabriel Suswam.

According to the party, its members are also being daily harassed and intimidated in Akwa Ibom by the PDP-government of Gov. Godswill  Akpabio, who believe no one should have the temerity to challenge his tainted victory in the last election.

ACN appealed to its supporters in the affected states to remain resolute and peaceful, even in the face of the provocative acts by anti-democratic forces, saying no matter how far lies travel, truth will always catch up and prevail.