The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned President Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress, APC, against further arrest and detention of their officials and members in various parts of the country.
The party, in a statement signed by its Spokesman’s, Kola Ologbondiyan, has therefore demanded the immediate release of Kaduna State Chapter’s Spokesperson, Mr Ben Bako.
According to the statement, PDP completely rejected the on-going clampdown, unlawful arrest and detention of its officials and members in various parts of the country by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the general election.
They warned that the act was not only highly provocative but a direct invitation to anarchy and political crisis that was capable of derailing the nation’s democratic order.
The statement read in part, “Our party is concerned over the unwarranted arrest of the Director of Media Committee of the Kaduna state PDP Governorship Campaign Organization, Mr. Ben Bako, who has been detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, since last weekend.
“We are aware that Mr. Ben Bako’s arrest is prelude to the planned clampdown of our campaign officials by the Buhari Presidency and the APC, whose aim is to instil fear in the polity, incite crisis and derail the electoral process, having realized that they have lost in this election ahead of the polls.
“It is instructive to state that the DSS has given no reason for Mr. Ben Bako’s arrest and detention, but only acted on the orders of the APC as expressed by the Assistant Publicity Secretary of Kaduna APC, Salisu Tanko Wusono, who openly stated that Mr. Bako deserves his ordeal.
The PDP said it also gathered from its Kaduna State chapter that many of their leaders including former governors of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Markarfi and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; PDP Kaduna state chapter chairman, Felix Hyat and the former PDP state chairman, Yahaya Yaro Makama among others, have been listed for clamp down and are now being trailed by agents of the APC.
READ ALSO: NPA, Truck Owners adopt temporary call-up system to ease Apapa gridlock
“We have also been informed of plots by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to track down and detain PDP critical stakeholders in other parts of the country, so as to put them out of circulation before and during the general elections.
“The PDP unequivocally cautions the Buhari Presidency and the APC to note that their plot, as well as the continued detention of Ben Bako, is setting the stage for a vehement resistance by the people, which is capable of triggering crisis and disrupting the fragile peace in Kaduna state.”
The PDP therefore demanded the DSS to, immediately and unconditionally, release Mr. Ben Bako without hurt or further harassment.
The party also stressed that it would hold the APC and the Buhari Presidency directly responsible should any harm, whatsoever, befall any of their leaders or members, particularly in Kaduna state ahead of the elections.
“Kaduna state is a PDP stronghold and our party is not ready to stomach any further harassment of our leaders, officials and members; before, during and after the general elections.”
The party has therefore called on the National Peace Committee to note, as well as speak out against the provocations by the APC and the Buhari Presidency against the PDP saying their acts are in total negation of the spirit and letters of the peace accord.
