Kogi State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) has called on the Federal government to intervene in what it termed undemocratic acts perpetrated by thugs in the State.
The party also appealed to the Inspector General of Police, IGP to set up an independent panel of inquiry to unravel the causes and perpetrators of attacks on its supporters and governorship candidate during a recent rally at Koton-karfe.
The call was made during a joint press briefing at the SDP state secretariat in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
Director General, of the SDP Campaign Council, Sheikh Jibril Ibrahim said that the SDP and its governorship candidate had fulfilled all legal and security requirements to embark on campaigns at Koton-karfe but were attacked severely by armed individuals reportedly loyal to the APC.
According to him, SDP had already been approved to hold its rally at Koton-Karfe on the 29th of September and wondered why individuals alleged to be APC loyalists invaded the venue, shooting sporadically and in the process destroying property and injuring SDP supporters.
He alleged that the police in Kogi State may have taken a stand as it had in one swoop promised to investigate the matter and at the same time insinuated that the SDP candidate was lawless, moved around with thugs, and was disobedient to the law of the land.
These allegations he stated were untrue and not expected from the police in Kogi State.
He noted that the SDP Governorship candidate, Alhaji Yakubu Muritala Ajaka is a law-abiding citizen who respects the rule of law and has the people at heart.
The SDP DG campaign expressed worry that a level playing field could not be guaranteed by the police before, during, and after the November 11 polls hence, the need to let the whole world know what was happening.
On his part, Director of Security and Intelligence, Brigadier General Benjamin Ibiyomi retired emphasized that the IGP had approved the armed police personnel on the details of the SDP candidates which were now termed as thugs by the APC.
He appealed to President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the IGP to set up an independent inquiry into the activities surrounding the attack at Koton-Karfe and several others against the SDP candidate and party supporters.
Retired Brigadier General Ibiyomi reiterated that there was video evidence and witnesses on the unwarranted attacks on the SDP supporters in Koton-Karfe which led to the killing of a lady.
The call for an independent investigation is coming after the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign council demanded justice for an unarmed woman who was gruesomely murdered at Koton Karfe during a campaign rally of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday.
At a press briefing in Lokoja on Monday, the Director of Media and Publicity, of the APC Campaign Council, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo accused persons suspected to be the armed thugs of the candidate of the SDP, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka for the murder.
