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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Accord Party, yesterday, declared that it would not bow to harassment and intimidation, allegedly perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
AP National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, stated that most of the party’s chieftains have been arrested for flimsy reasons, by the police.
Mgbudem, in a statement, said: “No brute force will break the resolve of the people of Osun from identifying with Accord and its candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial poll. In the end, the ballot is stronger than the bullet.
“The party urges members to remain calm and law abiding in the quest for a better, greater and prosperous Osun State.
“Accord is peacefully carrying out its grassroots campaign for the August 15, governorship election in Osun State.”
According to him, while the party is preparing for the election, “the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command and thugs associated with the APC have been unleashing unprecedented assaults on the nation’s democracy to undermine the gubernatorial poll.
“The danger is very glaring and must be forestalled immediately by all stakeholders in the electoral process to save our hard earned democracy.
“Accord had previously addressed the media on the mindless killing of its leaders and supporters, multiple attacks on Imole Campaign Council and party’s offices, destruction of campaign billboards etc, by thugs associated with the All Progressives Congress
“These attacks were duly reported to the Police and other security agencies in the state, sadly none of these known hoodlums was arrested let alone prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
“It was this apparent Police compromise that forced Accord to demand the removal of the Osun State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan as he has become partisan.
“As at today, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the Police, some of them were moved to Abuja.
“It is glaring that their arrests are politically motivated, to frustrate, weaken and dampen our party’s campaign efforts in Osun State.”
