Ahead of next Saturday’s Governorship and State Assemblies elections, the Gombe State People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Campaign Management Council has kicked against Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s directive of dismantling all security check- points within the state.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state where the PDP candidate, Mohammed Jibrin Barde is among the top contenders for the seat.
The PDP’s Campaign Council alleged that the directive is a ploy to clear the way and grant free movement for the Governor’s thugs to intimidate voters and unleash terror and violence on the people of the state before, during and after the elections without security intervention or resistance.
Spokesman of the PDP Campaign Management Council in the state, Mr. Ayuba Aluke in a Press briefing also alleged that the timing of the directive, which was issued last Monday, is highly questionable and suspicious.
It said the directive was coming at a critical period of heightened election activities with barely a week to the State House of Assembly and Governorship election.
It therefore called on the Gombe State Government to honourably reverse the unpopular directive, reinstate and reinforce the security checkpoints for the overall peace and security of Gombe residents before, during and after the forthcoming elections.
While calling on the good people of the state to stay calm, peaceful, law abiding, cooperate with security operatives, report suspicious movements, turn out en mass to vote the candidates of their choice, they must insist that their votes count and are duly transmitted to collation centres in line with the guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Mr. Ayuba also disclosed that they have petitioned higher security authorities with respect to the development and believe that the authorities will act appropriately to sustain the peace and security of Gombe State.
He said, “We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and sundry security outfits to deploy adequate resources to Gombe State to forestall any break down of law and order that the dismantling of the security check- points could cause.
“We charge foreign and local election observers and civil society organization not to be discouraged by the removal of the security check- points in Gombe State.
We encourage all CSO’s operating in Gombe State to be resolute and determined in carrying out their civic and humanitarian responsibilies of observing and monitoring the State House of Assembly and Governorship election without fear or favour.
