The Peoples Democratic Party has demanded the immediate release of its presidential campaign spokesperson in Kogi State, Austin Okai, who was reportedly abducted on Friday evening by armed thugs allegedly unleashed by the All Progressives Congress.
The party also said the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, should immediately disband the checkpoint in Banda, Lokoja-Abuja Expressway, where members of opposition are being allegedly harassed and intimidated.
The PDP said its members as well as the people of Kogi State cannot stomach the abduction of Okai as well as the arrest of its members for flimsy reasons allegedly by the APC.
The PDP cautioned that the continued stay in captivity of Kogi State party leaders can spark off crisis in the state.
It said: “We urge the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to immediately step into the matter to forestall a break down of law and order. This is because, if Mr. Austin Okai and others are not immediately released by the APC, it would send a very wrong signal to the already agitated youth and lead to a resort to self-help.
“The PDP also alerts of the arrest of its ward chairmen in Rivers state by soldiers, particularly in Abua-Odual Local Government Area, ostensibly in compliance with the orders of the Buhari Presidency.
“The mass arrest in Rivers is coming on the heels of the clampdown of PDP members in Kano state with the arrest of our party leaders and campaign officials including our Senatorial candidate Ahmed Haruna Bichi and a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Garba Bichi.
“The PDP notes that these are two very volatile states and any act that suggests a clamp down by the authorities might lead to vehement resistance by the people and trigger crisis in the state.
“We call on Nigerians to note how the Buhari Presidency and the APC are pushing Nigerians to the wall and invite the international community to hold President Buhari directly responsible for these infractions against innocent Nigerians.”