POLICE TEARGAS SARAKI, TAMBUWAL, SECONDUS
Police yesterday deployed teargas on leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who staged a protest in Abuja over the outcome of the Osun State governorship election held a fortnight ago. This was after the party leaders arrived the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding free, fair and transparent elections in 2019.
The protest was led by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.
Others affected by the teargas were Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; former governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed; Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Sen. Dino Melaye.
The party leaders were seen using handkerchiefs to cover their noses while scampering for safety.
Most of the protesters who wore white T-shirts carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Declare Adeleke winner of the Osun State governorship elections’, ‘INEC chairman must resign’, ‘Police an arm of APC’, among others.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the act as reprehensive, saying no amount of intimidation would stop the PDP from waxing stronger.
“The police physically assaulted, fired teargas canisters and violently dispersed our party leaders who were on peaceful protest to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, over the use of police by the APC to rig elections, particularly the September 22, 2018 Osun State governorship election. This unwarranted attack has left no one in doubt that our police have finally been turned into a militant wing of the APC, with direct orders to use force to repress opposition and turn our nation into a one-party state,” the statement said.