Police Clarify Stoppage Of APC Minna Rally
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Niger State Police Command has clarified issues involved in the stoppage of the All Progressives Congress, APC rally scheduled to hold in Minna, Niger State capital on Tuesday.
Early Tuesday and in what appeared to be a major crack in the rank of the APC in Niger State, the party’s State Working Committee disassociated itself from a planned rally to galvanize supports for its Presidential and governorship candidates including their running mates slated for New Bussa, Borgu local government area of the state.
A Support Group, 774 had planned a “Grand Lockdown Rally” for the Presidential candidate and his running mate, as well as the governorship candidate and his running mate billed to hold at the New Bussa township stadium on Tuesday January 31 to mobilize supporters for the candidates.
The Chief Whip of the senate, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi, representing Niger North Senatorial District and National Coordinator, Project 774 for Tinubu/Shettima, 2023, had through his Special Assistant (operations), Hon. Mohammed Garba Danladi in a letter dated 27/01/2023 and addressed to the state Party Chairman, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro notified the party of the planned rally.
Senator Sabi in the letter also stated that the State Working Committee of the party are invited to the Grand Lockdown Rally for the Candidates and their running mates on the need to galvanize support and positively enhance of the party at the polls.
But the State Working Committee of the party in a statement in Minna on Monday by the publicity secretary, Mallam Musa Dan Sarkindaji, said the Chairman of the party, Hon Haliru Zakari Jikantoro has disassociated itself from the rally.
However no reason was given for action of the party, but it was gathered that the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who is the leader of the party in the state had instructed the party to stay away from the planned rally, a confirmation of the Cold War between him and the senator, the organizer of the rally.
However, security operatives were seen at the venue about time the event was scheduled to hold.
This technically sent jilters into the spins of party loyalists and different information filtered into the media space.
Clarifying the situation through a statement signed by Niger State Police spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, the Command noted that what it did was in line with best of intelligence.
They assured the public that there is no cause for alarm.
The statement titled “ No Panic In Niger State Due To Stoppage Of Political Rally,”reads in full
Niger State Police Command wishes to equivocally state that there is no tension or panic in any part of the State due to stoppage of a planned rally.
The Police Command took over the venue of the planned rally, as a proactive measure due to intelligence received of likely breach of security at the venue.
Hence, we have to do the needful to avert any possible attack or hijack by suspected miscreants to cause mayhem and breach of peace in the community. The Command will not fold its arms and allow act of political violence, avoidable loss of life, destruction of properties and lawlessness.
This action was done in good faith. It will suffice to add that the APC Presidential and Governorship mega rally was held in Minna on 14th December, 2022 at Trade Fair Complex successfully. The step taken was purely for proactiveness, as the protection of lives and property is the ultimate priority of the Command.
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