Kogi APC Campaign Council for November 11th governorship election in the state has called on the security agencies to fish out the killer of a female member of APC who died in Koton Karfe at the weekend.

Spokesman/Director, Media and Publicity, Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, made this call while addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Monday over the death of a woman member of the party who was allegedly killed by SPD thugs at a political rally in Koton Karfe, Kogi Local Government Area of the state.

Fanwo explained that the governorship candidate of All Progress Congress, Mr. Ododo Ahmed Usman, is uncompromisingly committed to issue based campaigns that is devoid of violence, ethnocentric narratives or divisive tendencies.

“Issue-based campaign entails tailoring our promises, assurances and social contract with the peace-loving people of our dear state through the media to the people. Ododo Ahmed Usman, OAU, wants the people of the state to be convinced by the legacies of the system he served in, his promises of consolidation and continuity, his antecedents and competence, as well as his message of unity. His clip to these ideals is iron cast.

“We have invited you today to brief you of certain developments as we race to November 1 1, 2023. Chief among them was the gruesome murder of an unarmed woman at Kotonkarfe by people suspected to be the armed thugs of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka

“While we commiserate with the family and the entire people of Kotonkarfe; we call on security agencies to ensure that those who threatened to kill and went ahead to kill have undoubtedly declared war on the Nigerian state, whose responsibility it is to protect the poor woman who was killed by bullets from the barrels of the SDP riffles.

“It is on record that the SDP’s candidate already said the Commissioner of Police was not aware of his rally. The rally was a satanic ambush on the peace-loving people of Kotonkarfe, leaving in its wake, the blood of an innocent woman whose only sin was belonging to the All Progressives Congress. We call on the supporters of our party to remain calm as security agencies are trusted to ensure that killers don’t walk freely without consequences. The Kogi State APC Campaign Council will await the full reports of the security agencies.

“The initial statement of the police authority had been reassuring. There must be justice for the murdered soul. It is high time Kogites called the blood-sucking campaign of the SDP to order. Elections are won on the ballot and not via the bullet. Even in the face of glaring provocation, our party and our campaign will remain peaceful and play according to the rules of the game.

“The unguarded, inflammatory and acidic statements of the SDP candidate, Mr. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka on national television have not gone unnoticed. What is of surprise to us is how he gets away after calling a whole ethnic group “a common enemy”. He also said they were ready for violence. His utterances and actions are not supported by the electoral law. And we are sure INEC and relevant authorities have taken note of this.

“His campaign has been divisive and inciting, yet he walks around spreading the propaganda of him being hunted. They commit visible crimes and turn around to play the victims. The quietness of the law enforcement agencies has emboldened him to spill the blood of an innocent woman.

“His desperation in the face of looming humiliation at the polls has undoubtedly put him in a very dangerous corner. Only Muritala Yakubu and the thugs he moves around with think he has a chance. Conduct your poll in Kogi State today, even in Igala land, you will find that he is not even near the top two contenders in the forthcoming governorship election.

“We salute the people of Kotonkarfe for their perseverance and calm in the face of an unprovoked invasion and murder.

“We assure you of justice. The murdered won’t die in vain. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka must pay for the blood of the innocent woman.

“In his characteristic way, the SDP candidate through his media handlers had claimed the poor woman was bearing arm. But they never showed us the arm she was bearing. The claim was a desperate attempt at sweeping the murder they committed under the carpet. You don’t kill the people who hold a contrary belief to yours. It was crude, criminal and callous.

“Also, our attention has been drawn to calls by some hired guns, calling on the director general of the campaign council to resign his appointment, citing divisive reasons for the call. The director general of the campaign council is committed to executing a campaign that will usher in the Ododo era of consolidation and continuity. (THISDAY)

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