- The Social Democratic Party (SDP) raises concerns about a plot to burn the Kogi State INEC office, alleging an APC affiliation
- The APC Campaign Council dismisses SDP’s claims, labeling them baseless propaganda and accusing SDP of concealing its own agenda
In a recent development, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sounded an alarm, expressing concerns about a purported plot to set ablaze the Kogi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office located in Lokoja.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council countered, emphasizing that SDP should be held accountable by security authorities if any harm befalls the INEC office.
Isaiah Davies Ijele, the Director General of New Media at the Muri/Sam Campaign Council of the SDP, conveyed the party’s apprehension through a weekend statement. He alleged that certain individuals affiliated with the APC intended to burn the structure containing crucial materials from the recent gubernatorial election. The motive, as claimed by Ijele, was to camouflage the act as a fire incident, thereby destroying all evidence of election rigging.
“We have received information through informal channels indicating an urgent need for increased security around the Kogi State INEC office to thwart the malevolent plot by mandate bandits to set it ablaze.
Calling on relevant security forces to take swift action, the statement urged preventive measures to safeguard the office and all electoral materials utilized in the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Kogi State.”
SDP underscored that if any harm befell the sensitive materials already mandated for inspection by the court, the APC-led government should be promptly held accountable.
In response, Kingsley Fanwo, the Director of Media and Publicity/spokesman for the APC Campaign Council, dismissed SDP’s claims as baseless propaganda. Fanwo expressed conviction that the SDP’s alarm was an attempt to conceal their own agenda of destroying the INEC office and later pinning the blame on the APC.
“No amount of propaganda can salvage their baseless, senseless, and unsubstantiated claims. The party is convinced that SDP’s false alarm about a purported planned attack on the INEC office aims to cover up their sinister motive of setting it ablaze and then blaming the APC.”
The APC further urged security agencies to bolster security measures around all INEC offices across the state to thwart any potential moves by the opposition party. The situation remains tense as both political entities engage in a war of words, each pointing fingers at the other’s alleged hidden agenda.