The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that supporters of the party are being targeted in “coordinated attacks” by thugs in Zamfara State.
He said this in a Monday statement he personally signed and released via his social media pages.
The former vice president said that the attacks were condemnable.
In a Saturday statement, governorship candidate of PDP in Zamfara, Dr. Dauda Lawal, alleged that thugs sponsored by the state government were attacking members of the party.
Lawal described the attacks as the height of lawlessness, brigandage, and provocation capable of heightening the tension in the state.
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“The PDP has fixed today October 15th as a day to receive thousands of APC decampees to the PDP as well to inaugurate the 2023 governorship Campaign Council.
“Our entourage was attacked on our way to Gusau, by thugs sponsored by the APC and the state governor. Many of our vehicles were smashed and burnt during the attack.
“Today, the thugs led by one Aliyu Alhazai Shinkafi, the former chairman of the Zamfara Anti-thuggery committee and Commandant of the Zamfara Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) attacked the residence of PDP gubernatorial candidate. Alhazai led thugs barricaded the road leading to Lawal’s residence and venue, setting parameter for the attack. In the renewed unprovoked attack, our campaign buses were vandalized and looted.
“We know the APC and the Matawalle-led government intends to unlawfully use force to stop our campaign activities across the Zamfara. The hooliganism we were not praying for has returned to the state. The issue is a source of concern,” read the statement released by the Dauda Lawal Media Centre in Gusau.
In an apparent reaction, Atiku condemned the attacks, describing it as an attempt to scuttle the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly.
“I have received reports of coordinated attacks on members of our great party, the PDP, by thugs in Zamfara State, which reportedly led to the death of one of our members.
“I condemn these attacks in entirety because it is an attempt to scuttle the lawful right of Nigerians to assemble peacefully and a direct attempt to suppress the legitimate campaigns of the PDP in the state.
“I reassure the Zamfara State PDP of my support, and most importantly, my heart goes out to the PDP family in Zamfara and the friends and loved ones of victims of this attack,” Atiku said.