The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) completely rejects the on-going
clampdown, unlawful arrest and detention of our officials and members in
various parts of the country by the Buhari Presidency and the All
Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the general election.
A statement signd by Kola Ologbondiyan said “This is highly provocative
and a direct invitation to anarchy and a political crisis that is capable
of derailing our democratic order.
“Our party is concerned over the unwarranted arrest of the Director of
Media Committee of the Kaduna state PDP Governorship Campaign
Organization, Mr. Ben Bako, who has been detained by the Department of
State Services (DSS) since last weekend.
“We are aware that Mr. Ben Bako’s arrest is prelude to the planned
clampdown of our campaign officials by the Buhari Presidency and the
APC, whose aim is to instill fear in the polity, incite crisis and
derail the electoral process, having realized that they have lost in
this election ahead of the polls.
“It is instructive to state that the DSS has given no reason for Mr. Ben
Bako’s arrest and detention, but only acted on the orders of the APC as
expressed by the Assistant Publicity Secretary of Kaduna APC, Salisu
Tanko Wusono, who openly stated that Mr. Bako deserves his ordeal.
“Further reports reaching us at the PDP from our Kaduna State chapter
indicate that many of our leaders including former governors of Kaduna
state, Senator Ahmed Markarfi and Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; PDP
Kaduna state chapter chairman, Chief Felix Hyat and the former PDP state
chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Yaro Makama among others, have been listed for
clamp down and are now being trailed by agents of the APC.
“We have also been informed of plots by the APC and the Buhari Presidency
to track down and detain PDP critical stakeholders in other parts of the
country, so as to put them out of circulation before and during the
general elections.
“However, the PDP unequivocally cautions the Buhari Presidency and the
APC to note that their plot, as well as the continued detention of Ben
Bako, is setting the stage for a vehement resistance by the people,
which is capable of triggering crisis and disrupting the fragile peace
in Kaduna state.
“The PDP therefore demands the immediate and unconditional release of Mr.
Ben Bako by the DSS without hurt or further harassment.
“The PDP also stresses that it will hold the APC and the Buhari
Presidency directly responsible should any harm, whatsoever, befall any
of our leaders or members, particularly in Kaduna state ahead of the
elections.
“Kaduna state is a PDP stronghold and our party is not ready to stomach
any further harassment of our leaders, officials and members; before,
during and after the general elections.
“We therefore call on the National Peace Committee to note, as well as
speak out against the provocations by the APC and the Buhari Presidency
against our party, which are in total negation of the spirit and letters
of the peace accord.
“The PDP states this because Nigeria belongs to all of us and we will not
hesitate to call out our members, in their millions, should this
aggression by the APC and the Buhari Presidency against our party is not
curbed.