Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the violent
attack on its Zamfara state Congress in Samaru area of Gusau by the All
Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, December 27, 2021, describing it as a direct assault on democracy and another vicious attempt by the
sinking APC to subvert the will of the people as embodied in the PDP and
its activities.
In a statement by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary the party said: “Niigerians were horrified as APC thugs invaded the venue of our congress in Samaru in Gusau, unleashed violence on our members, vandalized materials and vehicles after which they descended on the PDP secretariat, tore the PDP as well as Nigerian flags, all in their bid to orchestrate tension in the state and disrupt our congress.
Nevertheless, the success of the PDP congress in Zamfara state despite
the attacks shows that the PDP is in firm control of the state even with
Governor Bello Matawalle’s defection to the APC and that we will never
relent in our determination to reclaim our electoral mandate taken to
the APC by Governor Matawalle and other feeble-minded deserters.
“For those who took benefit of PDP structure to attain power in Zamfara
state, only to turn around to inflict violence on the same structure;
they have only demonstrated the absence of moral and character in the
guise of politics. History will judge their level of inconsistency,
betrayal and low-grade moral.
“APC has been in panic mode over the sustained formidability and
penetrating popularity of the PDP in Zamfara state and sought every
means including violence, threats and coercion to stop our congress; a
scheme that was firmly resisted by our Party and the people of the
state.
‘APC’s pitiable failure to stop the PDP Zamfara congress is a bitter
foretaste of the inevitable crushing defeat that awaits Governor
Matawalle and his fizzling APC at all levels in the 2023 elections.
“Our Party salutes the courage and resolve of the Deputy Governor of
Zamfara state, Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, other leaders, critical
stakeholders and all members of the PDP in the state for resisting the
machinations of the APC and ensuring the successful conduct of our state congress.
“The PDP congratulates the newly elected officers of our party in Zamfara state led by the new state chairman-elect, Col. Bala Mande (rtd) and urges them to remain united and alert for the task ahead as Nigerians chart a new course for our nation in solidarity with the PDP’s Rescue and Rebuild mission.”