Olu Samuel, Lokoja

As the November 11 Governoship election in Kogi state draws closer,the All Progressive Congress,APC has vowed to pursue justice for it’s member killed during the campaign rally of the social Democratic party, SDP in Konto-Nkarfe.

The spokesman/Director, Media and Publicity, Kogi APC
Governorship Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo in a crowded press conference on Monday in Lokoja said that the party is working closely with the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the killing of an unarmed young lady was not only brought to book also to ensure that no act of criminality or violence would be tolerated before, during and after the November 11 election.

“We have invited you today to brief you of certain developments as we race to November 1 1, 2023. Chief among them was the gruesome murder of an unarmed woman at Kotonkarfe by people suspected to be the armed thugs of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka. While we commiserate with the family and the entire people of Kotonkarfe; we call on security agencies to ensure that those who threatened to kill and went ahead to kill have undoubtedly declared war on the Nigerian state, whose responsibility it is to protect the poor woman who was killed by bullets from the barrels of the SDP riffles.

Fanwo said that it was on record that the SDP Candidate already admitted that the Commissioner of Police was not aware of his rally.

He described the rally as “a satanic ambush on the peace-loving people of Kotonkarfe, leaving in its wake, the blood of an innocent woman whose only sin was belonging to the All Progressives Congress”.

He called on the supporters of the party to remain calm as security agencies are trusted to ensure that killers don’t walk freely without consequences.

“The Kogi State APC Campaign Council will await the full reports of the security agencies.

Fanwo who doubles as the state information Commissioner said that the
“unguarded, inflammatory and acidic statements of the SDP candidate, Alh. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka on national television have not gone unnoticed. What is of surprise to us is how he gets away after calling a whole ethnic group “a common enemy”. He also said they were ready for violence. His utterances and actions are not supported by the Electoral Law. And we are sure INEC and relevant authorities have taken note of this”.

He described Muri’s campaign as
“divisive and inciting, yet he walks around spreading the propaganda of him being hunted. They commit visible crimes and turn around to play the victims. The quietness of the law enforcement agencies has emboldened him to spill the blood of an innocent woman. His desperation in the face of looming humiliation at the polls has undoubtedly put him in a very dangerous corner. Only Muritala Yakubu and the thugs he moves around with think he has a chance. Conduct your poll in Kogi State today, even in Igaland, you will find that he is not even near the top two” Fanwo noted.

He said that the candidate of the APC has based his campaign on issues bothering on his plans to sustain the developmental project started by the New Direction administration under the leadership of Alhaji Yayaha Bello.

“0ur Candidate for the November 1 1, 2023 Governorship election, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has remained uncompromisingly committed to an issue-based campaign that is devoid of violence, ethnocentric narratives or divisive tendencies.
Under the leadership of the Campaign Chairman, His
Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello, CON, and the Director General, HM Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, our Campaign has been peaceful, uniting and a true reflection of the enduring legacies that have kept our party at the apex of political performance in our dear state.
contenders in the forthcoming governorship election. The reason is that the good people of Igala Land, having followed his activities over the years, and knowing that he lacks the intellectual capacity to represent them, would rather go with responsible candidates. He is not even near the list of hopeful contenders. He will be roundly defeated at the Poll and he will still account for his sins against humanity.

We salute the people of Kotonkarfe for their perseverance and calm in the face of an unprovoked invasion and murder.
We assure you of justice. The murdered won’t die in vain. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka must pay for the blood of the innocent woman.