The governing All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State, on Tuesday fired salvos at the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing the opposition party of showing sympathy and solidarity with assailants unleashing terror in Imo State.
Gunmen had on Monday morning attacked the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Owerri.
The opposition PDP had in a statement, lashed Governor Hope Uzodimma for accusing opposition politicians of instigating violence in the State.
Cajethan Duke, State Publicity Secretary of the APC in Imo State, in a counter statement, said that the attacks in the State, have been targeted at its members, recalling an incident at Afara in Mbaitoli LGA, “where a prominent leader of our party was attacked, leading to the death of a renowned crown prince”
It said the attack is “another pointer to the mindset of the bandits and their sponsors”
“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” part of the statement stated.
The ruling party expressed regret “that in the face of these atrocities, the opposition PDP, has continued to demonstrate it’s sympathy and solidarity with the assailants”
The party stated that “it 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”
The party stated “Strangely, the opposition PDP, in it’s display of gross insensitivity and irresponsibility, is still dragging the January 15, 2020 landmark judgement of the Supreme Court that brought the Emeka Ihedioha illegal and fraudulent occupation of Douglas House to a deservedly end and linking it to insecurity in the State”
The APC said the PDP in Imo State have never condemned the activities of non State actors, pointing out “they have unfortunately become advocate of the ‘unknown gunmen’ always ready to disparage and repove the security agencies and State government
“It is not a magic or miracle that the opposition PDP has not lost a member to insecurity and banditry. They know the assailants and the assailants know them” it declared.
It called on “security agencies 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 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 statement read
