Kwara by-election: PDP, APC bicker over arrest of gov’s aide

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has accused the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) of alleged intimidation of its members with the use federal security operatives.

The PDP, which also condemned the reported arrest of Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services, Anu Ibiwoye, during Saturday’s by-election into Ekiti/Oke Ero /Isin/ Irepodun federal constituency, said that some other members of the party were allegedly whisked away by security operatives before the poll.

It was gathered that Ibiwoye and his driver were arrested on Saturday afternoon by security men in his hometown of Ijan in Esie and were reportedly taken to an unknown destination.

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Reports also had it that the special adviser and his driver were engaged in a fight with one of the agents of the All Progressives Congress APC at Agbele community during the exercise before the security operatives deployed to the town made the arrest to forestall further attack.

However, the leadership of APC in a statement said that the special adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Agric was arrested by security operatives based on alleged electoral offences.

A statement by the APC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Kayide-Oyin Zubair, said that the governor’s aide was arrested at Agbele town when he allegedly posed as an APC chieftain at a polling unit of Esie/Ijan ward.

Contacted, the state police command Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi said that, “I am not aware of the arrest at this time around”.

He however said that, “I will work on it and let you know about it”.

But, the PDP In a statement issued in Ilorin signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr Tunde Ashaolu, described the arrest as unlawful and barbaric, and demanded the immediate release of its members.

“We condemn this act of impunity by the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and demand the unconditional and immediate release of Hon Anu Ibiwoye and all our members that have been indiscriminately arrested by the security agents”, it read.

The PDP also accused the FG and the APC of using state institutions to harass and intimidate opposition members, stressing that this act constitutes a threat to the nation’s democracy.

The party said the APC, having perceived its imminent defeat in the ongoing by-election, had resorted to launching desperate tactics including attacks on PDP members and snatching of ballot boxes by imported APC thugs in a bid to manipulate the electloral process.

The party therefore called on the media, local and international observers to rise against these undemocratic acts by the FG and APC.