The Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of conspiring with the governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom to raze down the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Otukpo and Makurdi on Thursday.
According to the PDP in a statement on Wednesday signed by the state chairman of the party, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the Samuel Ortom led government of Benue State and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state has allegedly perfected plans to raze down the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in Otukpo and Makurdi over the APC’s defeat by PDP’s Senator David Mark in the just concluded Benue South senatorial rerun.
“Credible intelligence reports available to the PDP have shown that the APC in Benue State is reportedly working hand in hand with Governor Samuel Ortom in a sinister plot to torch the offices of INEC in Otukpo and Makurdi on Thursday under the guise of an angry mob protesting the victory of Senator David Mark in the Benue South senatorial rerun on Saturday.
“We wish to alert the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, INEC, the Nigerian Police and other relevant security agencies of this plot to wreak havoc over an election that was legitimately conducted and a winner declared by INEC.
“We are aware that the Ortom led APC government of Benue State is unsettled by Saturday’s election of the former Senate President, Senator David Mark and desperate measures are allegedly being put in place by Governor Ortom to reverse the mandate of the people of Benue South through this brazen resort to violence.
“The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu has reportedly been mandated to lead a violent protest to the INEC office in Makurdi demanding a reversal of Saturday’s election. The INEC offices in Makurdi and Otukpo are to be burnt down if the result of Saturday’s election is not reversed.
“Already we are aware that each of the nine local government caretaker committees have been directed to provide two coaster buses to move the hired thugs and protesters to Makurdi the state capital. In the midst of all these, Governor Ortom has arranged to be out of town during the planned protest to be led by his deputy, Abounu.
“This kind of desperation is to say the least, a condemnable and barefaced attempt to reverse the will of the people of Benue State.
“While the PDP in Benue State continues to pursue the path of peace, the inability of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Police and other relevant security agencies to contain the excesses of the APC in Benue State may lead to a situation where the PDP is forced to act, leading to what could have been an avoidable situation.
“Only yesterday, over 300-armed men attacked the village of Agatu in Benue South killing defenseless citizens and razing down houses. Their offence was simply that they voted for Senator David Mark.
“This is coming just a few days after two suspected assassins allegedly sent to assassinate Senator David Mark were apprehended by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Otukpo, Benue State. The suspects, named Joseph Senda and Emmanuel Kura were in possession of two (2) pump action rifles and four (4) AK 47 rifles.
“What is this desperation about? If the APC feels strongly about the outcome of Saturday’s senatorial rerun election, are there no legal channels to seek redress? Must the blood of innocent citizens be shed because they lost an election?
“Let it not be said that the PDP in Benue State did not speak up when the APC was running riots. We hope that Nigerians and the entire world are observing the political recklessness and brigandage currently going on in Benue State.”
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