Group plotting to disrupt Saturday primaries in Borno, APC alleges

Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Borno State, has alleged of plot by a group of politicians from the state to disrupt the party governorship primaries on Saturday using thugs purportedly hired from other state.

It alleged that the politicians have hired thugs Kaduna State and being imported into Borno to stage-manage a protest, in Maiduguri, on Friday, for the sole purpose of destabilizing the APC governorship primaries scheduled for Saturday.

APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Makinta Zarami said, in a statement, claimed the party has information that “Some representatives of the group held meeting in Kaduna during which it was agreed that a protest be stage-managed” so as to establish opposition to the indirect primaries which the party said was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC).

“Some members of the group boasted of working in collaboration with someone at the national headquarters of the APC who promised to initiate controversies at an NWC meeting on the basis the stage-managed protest,” the party alleged.

It said the plot was aimed at introducing a “dubious register” of the party in the state against what it called authentic register and membership cards from the national secretariat of the party.

The APC said it was alerting security agencies to avert any breakdown of law and order while also notifying members of the party and supporters in the State as well as the national headquarters of the party ahead of the alleged plot to destabilize the primaries.

“The APC urged it members and supporters to remain law abiding while also calling on all aspirants and their associates to carry out their political activities in peaceful and lawful manners,” the statement reads.

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Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Damian Chukwu, said the command was not notified of such development.

He, however, assured that the police would stop any attempt to breach law and order in the state.

In the words of the police boss, “We are not aware of this but our job is to ensure security during and after the electoral exercise.

“We won’t allow anybody to breach peace and order and my men are ready to halt any action that could affect the emerging peace,” CP said.