Sokoto 2019: PDP accuses Police of aiding APC, intimidating members ahead of election

THE leadership of People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ), in Sokoto State, has accused the Commissioner of police and the Inspector General of police of being biased in handling the security situation of the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

While addressing Newsmen at NUJ press centre in Sokoto on Sunday morning, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, accused the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force of being partisan in the state politics, while giving support to the main opposition in the state, the APC.

The Press conference which has in attendance some of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor and other party leaders including Mallam Yusuf Dyngiyadi, condemned the Nigerian Police of aiding the former Governor of the state and a serving senator, Senator Aliyu Wamakko to destabilise the peace being enjoyed in the state ahead of the election.

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According to the party spokesman, ” Imagine when the police came to the state on the instruction of the IGP, to arrest some of our party members and whisked them away.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Sokoto says it has lost confidence and trust in the Nigerian police, as it has become partisan and partial by dancing to the tune of the ruling party.

The party state publicity secretary, Honourable Yusuf Hausawa, who disclosed some instances such as incessant harassment, intimidation, molestation, unlawful arrest and unwarranted detention of its members without arraignment at any court of law, as reasons for the party’s position.

He also availed journalists with copies of letters sent to the police as complaints against PDP supporters, at a press conference held at the Sokoto state NUJ Press centre on Sunday.

The party spokesman alleged that the IGP has approved the bidding of APC in Sokoto state through the transfer of one of the hatchet men of a notable politician, (name withheld), from Kano to head the Mobile Police unit, Mopol 7, in Sokoto.

According to him, “the officer in question who is an indigene of Sokoto state has served previously as a Chief Security Officer, CSO, to a former governor during his eight years tenure.

“Imagine the Nigerian police coming all the way from Abuja, with no mission other than the illegal arrest of our members, who were transferred to Abuja without charging them for committing any offence, after staying in incarceration and confinement for more than a week.

“The use of Special Anti-armed Robbery Squad, SARS, to operate in commando style of arresting and detaining our supporters for weeks without trial is against the rule of law and due process.”

He further stated that “we are aware that, the team sent to Sokoto state to arrest and whisk away some of our supporters are part of the Special Squad that was allegedly formed by the Inspector General of Police, to arrest any member of the opposition to the ruling party or the Federal Government.”

” It is very disheartening that the Nigerian Police is turning into an appendage of destruction and tension infliction; and they have been used by the APC Leadership through the former Governor of the state, who is a serving senator to intimidate our teeming supporters after his failure in misleading the people of Sokoto State that he is the alpha and Omega.

In his remarks, one of the chieftains of the party in the State and SSA to the Governor, Alhaji Yusuf Dyngiyadi condemned the attitude of the police and advised the leadership of the security agencies in the state to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.