The Kogi All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign Council for the November 11, 2023 election has reiterated its uncompromising commitment to embark on an issue-based campaign that is devoid of violence, ethnocentric narratives or divisive tendencies.
Spokesman/Director, Media and Publicity of the Council, Kingsley Fanwo gave the assurance at a press conference held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital recently.
Fanwo disclosed that under the leadership of the Campaign Chairman, His
Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello, and the Director General of the Campaign Council, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, our campaign has been peaceful, uniting and a true reflection of the enduring legacies that have kept our party at the apex of political performance in our dear state.
According to him, “Issue-based campaign entails tailoring our promises, assurances and social contract with the peace-loving people of our dear state through the media to the people.
” Ododo Ahmed Usman, the APC candidate wants the people of the state to be convinced by the legacies of the system he served in, his promises of consolidation and continuity, his antecedents and competence, as well as his message of unity. His clip to these ideals is iron cast.
“We have invited you today to brief you of certain developments as we race to November 11, 2023. Chief among them was the gruesome murder of an unarmed woman at Kotonkarfe by people suspected to be the armed thugs of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Alh. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
“While we commiserate with the family and the entire people of Kotonkarfe; we call on security agencies to ensure that those who threatened to kill and went ahead to kill, have undoubtedly declared war on the Nigerian state, whose responsibility it is to protect the poor woman who was killed by bullets from the barrels of the SDP rifles.
“1t is on record that the SDP candidate already said the Commissioner of Police was not aware of his rally. The rally was a satanic ambush on the peace-loving people of Kotonkarfe, leaving in its wake, the blood of an innocent woman whose only sin was belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
“We call on the supporters of our party to remain calm as security agencies are trusted to ensure that killers don’t walk freely without consequences. The Kogi State APC Campaign Council will await the full reports of the security agencies.
“The initial statement of the Police authorities have been reassuring. There must be justice for the murdered soul. It is high time Kogites called the blood-sucking campaign of the SDP to order. Elections are won on the ballot and not via the bullet. Even in the face of glaring provocation, our party and our campaign will remain peaceful and play according to the rules of the game.
“The unguarded, inflammatory and acidic statements of the SDP candidate, Alh. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka on national television, have not gone unnoticed. What is of surprise to us is how he gets away after calling a whole ethnic group “a common enemy”. He also said they were ready for violence. His utterances and actions are not supported by the Electoral Law. And we are sure INEC and relevant authorities have taken note of this.
“His campaign has been divisive and inciting, yet he walks around spreading the propaganda of him being hunted. They commit visible crimes and turn around to play the victims. His desperation in the face of looming humiliation at the polls has undoubtedly put him in a very dangerous corner. Only Muritala Yakubu and the thugs he moves around with, think he has a chance at governorship election.
