The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm on the attacks and death of over 50 members in politically sponsored attacks in the state.
This is even as they condemned the attack on the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday.
Imo APC publicity secretary, Cajethan Duke, in a statement, said the INEC attack arsonists had marked their members as targets even as he listed the attack on a Commissioner and killing of Prince Iheme as proof.
He said “In a viral video of the incident, the assailants were seen declaring APC as their main target while setting the vehicle of the victim ablaze. No wonder therefore, no other political party in Imo but APC has lost more than 50 officers and several others injured by this sponsored political assault.”
The party condemned in its entirety “the mindless, unconscionable and despicable attacks on sensitive government facilities and institutions and killing of members of the party.
“The renewed unprovoked attacks on INEC facilities and APC members have exposed further the real intention and mission of those behind this unpardonable and atrocious adventure”, the statement read.
However, the APC took a swipe at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over what it described as the party’s sympathy for the attackers and charged it to commend the police for their gallantry.
It read “It is however regrettable that in the face of these atrocities, the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has continued to demonstrate its sympathy and solidarity with the assailants. While patriotic imolites and Nigerians are full of commendation for the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and the security agencies in the state, the opposition PDP went to town with a sloppy prose called press release to attack the personality of the governor”.
Further, the APC blamed PDP for the Imo attacks saying “Contrary to the position of Imo PDP, every discerning Imo citizen is aware that what is happening in the State today is a direct frustration of the PDP over the January 15, 2020 Supreme court judgement. We know that and it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that some frustrated political actors in PDP, have found cover in the needless, rudderless, uncoordinated and unguided Biafra agitation to mastermind contemptible crime in the bid to undermine the credibility of the APC-led administration in the state”.
The APC called on security agencies to quickly expose the terror sponsors saying “We therefore invite all relevant security agencies in the state to make haste in exposing those behind the spate of insecurity and banditry in Imo State and serial attacks on members of our party. It cannot be a mere coincidence that only members of our party are always victims of insecurity. We refuse to accept this vicious cycle! It is unacceptable and unbearable”.
The party said “We had expected Imo PDP, at least for once, to commend, if not Governor Hope Uzodimma, the security agencies for their prompt and effective response to the unwarranted attack on Imo INEC headquarters”.
