Ahead of 2023 general elections, supporters of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state have locked horns over arrest of PDP Senatorial Candidate for the Central Senatorial zone, Ikira Aliyu Bilbis.
The state PDP Acting chairman, Alhaji Muktar Muhammad Lugga while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Gusau, alleged that the Zamfara state government has denied PDP supporters their rights on many occasions.
Lugga further alleged that the APC led government in the state has come out with a plan to intimidate supporters of PDP across the state.
“We were surprised today when security agency came this morning and arrested our Central Senatorial Candidate, Ikira Aliyu Bilbis without reason”.
According to Lugga, recent rally held to welcome their Governorship candidate, Dr Dauda Lawal Dare from Sokoto to Gusau the home town of the candidate didn’t violate any law in the state.
“Our members are law abiding citizens, we did not conduct any illegal rally contrary to what the state government accused us of”.
He maintained that no one can intimidate them, saying they will remain resolute.
Meanwhile, Zamfara state government has condemned the attacks on government’s properties by alleged supporters of the People Democratic Party during the party’s rally last Sunday.
The Government has therefore warned that, it would no longer fold its arms and allow alleged PDP members to continue to destroy government’s and people’s properties in the name of a rally.
Addressing newsmen at Government House Gusau on Monday, the state Deputy Governor, Hassan Mohammed Nasiha said the state government would be left with no option but to respond to PDP’s atrocities if such incident happen in future.
Nasiha said, “We promptly responded to unwanted activities that has become rampant by PDP gubernatorial candidate.
“Henceforth, the state government will not allow some bad elements to cause unrest and destroy government’s and people’s properties in the name of politics”.
He said, despite the court’s order denouncing the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for 2023 general elections in the state, the party went ahead and conducted an illegal rally on Sunday where political thugs were used to vandalize people’s and government’s properties.
Nasiha therefore warned that the state government would put a stop to PDP’s illegal activities in the state in the name of political rallies.
“We want to make it clear that the state government has condemned in strong term this act of vandalism by the PDP which is illegal and contempt of law and will not allow it to continue”.
“Despite the efforts by his Excellency Governor Bello Muhammed Matawalle to achieve peace and stability in the state, some people are out to destroy this good effort.
“The Governor has reached out to all meaningful politicians, business men and Ulamah in the state with a view to avoid all forms of utterances and activities capable of provoking any person, religious or group.
“We have ordered the security agencies to swing into action to determine and checkmate any self seeking politician who wants to compromise our peace to get power.
“The security agencies have already made some arrests” he concluded.
