The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Sokoto State Government of alleged complicity in an attack on its female members in Sokoto metropolis, during which its branded campaign truck was seized.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan.
According to the Council, the women were ambushed during a peaceful campaign activity by thugs allegedly armed with dangerous weapons, who harassed them and seized their campaign vehicle.
One of the victims alleged that despite drawing the attention of security agencies to the incident, no meaningful intervention was made.
“We called the attention of the security agencies to the incident and they did nothing,” she said.
The victim further alleged that the attackers demanded ₦1 million, threatening to burn the truck if the money was not paid.
“We had to pay part of the money in cash and transferred the balance to the account they provided before the truck was released to us,” she said, expressing concern that the incident allegedly occurred in the presence of the police without any action against the perpetrators”,
Reacting, Ologbondiyan condemned the alleged attack as barbaric, cowardly and a serious threat to democratic participation, particularly the involvement of women in politics.
He called on security agencies to discharge their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, irrespective of political affiliation, and immediately investigate the incident, arrest the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution.
“Our party will not stand aloof and watch our members being attacked. Let this be the last time. Nobody has a monopoly of madness,”Ologbondiyan warned.
The ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity also cautioned political actors against recruiting and deploying thugs to intimidate opponents, warning that such practices could have dangerous consequences beyond election periods.
“We have all witnessed how recruited thugs turn out after every election season, graduating into banditry, robbery and terrorism. Let us not encourage today what will hunt us tomorrow, as we are already witnessing now,” he said.
The Council urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police to investigate the allegations, hold those responsible accountable and ensure a safe and level playing field for all political parties.
It stressed that political differences must never become a justification for violence, intimidation or the unlawful seizure of campaign property.
