Osogbo, Osun state – The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating âa full-scale assault on the democratic processâ in Nigeria.
Atiku said in Osun state, the APC âattempted to hijack the local government elections through brute forceâ.
The opposition leader said this via a tweet on Tuesday, February 18.
Recall the crisis in Osun stemmed from last Mondayâs court of appeal judgment in Akure, Ondo state, which purportedly reinstated the APC-elected chairpersons and councillors who were sacked in 2022.
While the APC maintained that the judgment explicitly reinstated the local government officials, the state government argued that it did not restore them to office. However, attempts by some APC members to forcefully take over council secretariats led to violent clashes with PDP supporters who resisted the move, escalating tensions in several local government areas.
Similarly, in Lagos on the same day, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the state house of assembly complex where they tried to prevent members and speaker of the house, Mojisola Meranda, from entering the chamber for plenary. The scene caused tension in the Lagos assembly.
Asking Nigerians to resist, Atiku claimed that the APC âhas left no doubt that it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people.â
He criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu âand his dwindling band of enablersâ to âcease their reckless acts of political sabotage â not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeriaâ.
Atiku said:
He continued:
Atiku concluded:
Earlier, TimesNow.com.ng reported that the Osun police command confirmed that six persons lost their lives in Mondayâs skirmishes between members of the PDP and the APC over the battle for control of local government secretariats in the state.
While vowing that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will face the full wrath of the law, the police assured that no stone will be left unturned in their efforts to sustain peace and security for lives and property.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
