Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in today’s governorship election in Kogi State, Mr Musa Wada, yesterday escaped being attacked by gunmen in their hotel rooms in Lokoja.
The incident occurred after gunmen dressed in police uniforms allegedly invaded the Suitoral Hotel, Lokoja, where the duo was lodged.
The gunmen, however, did not succeed in gaining access to the hotel, as security men attached to the governor repelled and chased them away.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Council, Farouk Adejoh Audu, confirmed the attack adding that the masked men were about 50 in number.
He said: “I can confirm to you that the hotel was attacked by hooded men in police uniform. They came in tinted buses, but our security details repelled them.
“We have been complaining that there are so many tinted vehicles that are not registered in the state and two days ago, the Commissioner of Police said such vehicles should be impounded. But these men came in those tinted vehicles”.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, also confirmed the incident.
“Information reaching us from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, confirmed that some armed and masked security men who appeared in police uniforms have attacked the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.
“Makinde is the chairman of the PDP’s Kogi State Campaign Council. He is in Kogi in his capacity as the chairman of that council.
“Eyewitnesses confirmed that the hooded security operatives arrived the Suitorial Hotels, Lokoja, located along Stadium Road, where the governor and some members of the PDP Campaign Council are lodged at about 12.50 pm shooting sporadically and attempting to break into the hotel rooms.
“It was gathered that some of the hooded security operatives scaled the fence of the hotel and attempted to enter the rooms. A melee was set off as the security operatives attached to the Governor of Oyo State were said to have resisted the invaders.”
The National Leadership of the PDP, berates the All Progressives Congress (APC) for sending armed thugs to invade the venue of the meeting of its leaders, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, in Lokoja on Friday.
The party says that several hooded APC thugs, armed with automatic rifles and other dangerous weapons, invaded the venue of the meeting which had Governor Makinde, Engr. Wada, his running mate, Hon. Samuel Aro, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, as well as other party chieftains in attendance.
It took the resistance of the security personnel attached to Governor Makinde to save the situation, which would have turned calamitous, as the people of Kogi who were around the venue were already poised for a stiff confrontation.
The PDP says the APC ought to have known by now that their reliance on thugs and violence cannot thrive, as the people are ready to defend their state in this election.
In a statement issued and made available to NewsWireNGR, the party therefore urges in the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to caution the APC as well as put every measure in place to check the activities of APC’s thugs so as to ensure a hitch free, transparent and credible election on Saturday.
The PDP calls on the people of Kogi state to remain alert and resolute in their determination to assert their will despite the machinations designed to undermine their spirit at the election.
It also states that Nigerians should hold the APC and Governor Yahaya Bello responsible should any harm whatsoever befall any PDP member during the period of the election.
