SDP seeks Tinubu’s interventions over allege attacks on members in Kogi

Kogi Election Tribunal: SDP seeks Tinubu interventions on allege attacks on members

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene on the allege attacks on its members in Kogi.

The party National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, alleged several attacks on SDP members, who witnessed before the ongoing Kogi State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal sitting at National Judiciary Institute, Abuja

Gabam called on the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies to wade into the matter in the interest of the nation.
He alleged that immediately after the siting of the tribunal on March 28, the SDP members, their family members and property in Kogi were attacked.

The allege attacks according to him includes vandalisation of the house and shop of one Mr Galadima at Oziokutu, while the property of one Agomi was also destroyed.
He added that the Pharmacy of one Mumuni Time at Idoji – Inike junction was also vandalised and burnt.
Gabam also alleged that the family house of Mustapha Otinawu at Ahogede, Idozumi was attacked and destroyed.
“The rented apartment of Agomi Yusuf at Okengwe was attacked and his property brought out and burnt.
“Also the house of Mr Dahiru Orietesu at Orietesu was attacked, his belongings were brought out and destroyed, while his pregnant wife was also beaten,” he said.

Gabam recalled that on Feb. 26 the SDP wrote a petition to the IGP on alleged plan and public threats of attack on the party members in Kogi.
He said that before and after the state governorship election, SDP members and the party’s Gubernatorial Secretariat in Lokoja had witnessed several attacks.
Gabam said that in spite of shifting of the Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja, the group had continue to use quasi-security bodies to unleash havoc on members of SDP.

“As a responsive and responsible political party, we hereby wish to humbly inform the IGP that the threats to the safety and security of our members in Kogi are indeed real and dangerous.

“We respectfully enjoin the IGP to please intervene before the situation spirals out of control.

“We have concluded plans to book a physical appointment with the Inspector General of Police to pay our complaints before him again for further action,” he said.

Gabam advised that the tribunal should be allowed to complete its assignment on the election petition without any form of harassment on the members of the judiciary or SDP.

The party National Secretary Dr Olu Agunloye and the National Legal Adviser, Mr Aderemi Abimbola, also at the briefing displayed photo evidences of the alleged attacks to the media.