A former Minister of Information and Director-General of Nasarawa state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential/governorship campaign council, Labaran Maku, has accused the rulling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using incumbency power to prevail on the police to holds its campaign same date with the opposition party in Toto Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Maku who spoke to Journalists during a press briefing in Karu LGA, however, said because the PDP is law-abiding and wants a peaceful outing, it had agreed to shift its first campaign to November 29, 2022, to pave way for the ruling party to hold theirs before that of opposition party would commence.
“As a law-abiding party, after due consultations with other leaders, we have decided to reschedule our first campaign in Toto LGA to November 29, 2022, instead of 28,” he said.
He alleged that the incumbent administration was afraid of election “because they have not performed. So they want to use other tactics to postpone our campaigns.
“It is strange that some hours before the party’s campaign rally, the police commissioner told us that he is not aware that we are holding our rally in Toto LGA, therefore we do not have permission.
“It was established that this party was the first to notify the police of our campaign schedule. Strangely, we have not been called to any meeting with the APC that there is any conflict, so it is clear to us that this is an attempt to disrupt the campaigns in Nasarawa.”
Responding, DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nasarawa state command, refuted the allegation that the police had directed the PDP to stop plans for its campaign flag off rally in Toto LGA on November 28.
He said there was a clash of date and location with the APC and CP Mohammed-Baba, only advised the PDP to shift its rally to the next day in order to avert clashes among supporters, and to adequately provide security to both parties for their campaign rallies.
