The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denounced the attack in Borno State on Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign vehicle.
When thugs attacked Atiku’s vehicle in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Wednesday, November 09, 2022; a large number of his supporters were hurt. Just as Atiku was heading to Ramat Square, the site of the presidential rally, from the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, his convoy was ambushed.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesman, issued a statement shortly after the attack urging Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector general of police, to “arrest this incessant incidence of violence being unleashed.”
By funding the armed thugs, Ologunagba charged that the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is currently in power, had planned the assault.
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The Borno people’s large turnout to “reject the APC thugs and secured the success of the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Rally in favour of Atiku Abubakar,” according to the PDP spokesman, was praised.
He added that Nigerians are already involved in the “PDP’s issue-based campaign in the endeavour to rescue, repair, and refocus our nation from the asphyxiating misrule of the APC,” saying that the main opposition party cannot be discouraged by despicable attacks.
“The attack on the PDP Presidential campaign train as it made its way into Maiduguri city amidst thunderous cheers by the people further confirms APC’s frustration, bitter envy and disconcertedness over the overwhelming popularity of the PDP and our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Borno State, the North-East Zone and across the nation; for which the APC has resorted to violence,” the statement read.
“Our Party has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilised the thugs with the aim to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its Presidential Campaign Rally in the State.
“Nigerians witnessed with horror how hundreds of APC’s armed thugs stationed at major roundabouts and intersections in the city of Maiduguri unleashed violence on the PDP Presidential Campaign convoy and innocent citizens going about their lawful activities in a gruesome attack that left over 70 persons gravely injured and hospitalised.
“This attack is consistent with APC’s habitual resort to violence in the face of rejection by the people as also witnessed in the attack on the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Rally in Kaduna State on October 17, 2022.
“APC’s barbaric and anti-social behaviour is contrary to the Peace Accord it signed on September 28, 2022 and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, our electoral process and the 2023 general elections.
“It is clear that the APC has since become confused, frenetic and chaotic following the daily mass exodus of its key members into the PDP across the nooks and crannies of the State as witnessed at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally today in Maiduguri in support of Atiku Abubakar and in clear rejection of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.”
