- SDP refutes allegations of thuggery and lack of response to Kogi state police, defending its governorship candidate Muritala Ajaka’s adherence to the law
- The party criticizes the state police for labeling Ajaka as a lawbreaker and calls for an independent inquiry into recent violent incidents
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed allegations of thuggery and failure to respond to the Kogi state police command as baseless and an attempt to smear the image of its governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka.
The Muritala Ajaka campaign organization announced this at a press conference in Lokoja, the state capital, on Tuesday.
The state police commissioner, CP Onuoha Benthrand, was economical with the truth in the unfolding drama in the state, according to Alhassan Enape, Faruk Adejo-Audu, and Brigadier General Benjamin Ipiyomi, who spoke on behalf of the party.
The party chastised the state police command for labeling its party’s flag bearer a lawless citizen and a lawbreaker who campaigns with thugs.
Our governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka respects the law of the land in his bid to become the governor of the state. He did not go around with thugs as alleged by the state police commissioner of police, CP Onuoha Benthrand.
The security around him were provided by the Inspector General of police, when he requested for it, as it was become obvious that his life is under threat .
When the present administration prevented him from coming to campaign in the state, he went to court and got injunction to be giving security cover and be allowed to go about his campaign peacefully.
The court granted his request, restraining the police and other security agencies, including other parties involved to stay off action, pending the determination of the case,” Enape said.
According to the party, based on that ruling, he must not appear for any further investigation by the state police command into any pending issue.
As a result, the party said it was laughable for him to appear before police authorities when the CP Onuoha had already slammed the SDP Candidate as a law breaker, a lawless citizen roaming the streets with thugs.
“What justice do we expect from police when CP Onuoha Benthrand has already passed judgement by his press statement few days ago, saying, the SDP candidate is going about with thugs ,breaking law of the land,” Enape said.
The party urged the Inspector General of Police to form an independent inquiry committee as soon as possible to identify the masterminds or perpetrators of violent activities, including the most recent one at Koton Karfi.
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