The leadership of Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against importing “thugs” from Kogi state for the party’s “factional rally” scheduled for Friday to welcome PDP defectors.
The party said it had been inundated with threats and counter threats “from at least three factions that exists in the APC”, which it accused of “intolerance and violence.”
The Edo APC has been factionalized over a battle of wits between the cational chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Two factions, who are laying claim to the leadership of the party, had Tuesday traded blames over alleged plans for the importation of thugs from neighbouring Kogi state to disrupt the Friday’s rally.
Suspended scribed of the APC, Mr Lawrence Okah said: we are raising this alarm so that the world will know that Governor Obaseki intends to unleash mayhem on the APC members in Edo state after he had perfected plans to join the PDP.
Spokesman of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, who made his party’s position known in a statement on Wednesday said: “Edo peace is being threatened”, adding that “we are all aware of the antecedents of Kogi APC thugs”.
According to him, the ruling party “intolerance has led to the non-representation of up to 14 constituencies in the state House of Assembly since its proclamation.
“This is in addition to the attacks and maiming on their own members in Owan, Estako Central and Ovia North-East local government areas in Edo state.
“We advised that a proper and effective security arrangement is put in place to checkmate these “tatatata political” misfits.
“Edo PDP sympathise with Edo people who are now made to feel unsafe and bear the brunt of the naked and crude power play within a party that was foist off on them.
“There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel. Edo people will have a chance to vote and chase these crazy bald heads out of the town in a few months,” Nehikhare said.
