Melaye, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, holding on 11 November, 2023, had accused APC of planning to use thugs in fake police and army uniforms to disrupt the election.
The former federal lawmaker, addressing a press conference in Abuja, today, alleged that the thugs would be brought in from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
Reacting to the allegation, the Kogi State APC Governorship Campaign Council said Dino Melaye was dazed by the emptiness of his political party, the PDP.
The Campaign Council further stated in a release by its Spokesman/Director of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the PDP candidate only gave the “unfounded” excuse ahead his humiliation at the poll.
It further claimed that the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had tackled insecurity and the party “would not allow desperate politicians take us back to dark days”.
The Kogi APC stated that the allegation by Melaye was rather part of his own plans ahead the governorship election.
“It [the allegation] doesn’t hold waters in modern day politicking that is built on mobilisation, conviction, strategies and aligning with the power of the people,” the Campaign Council stated.
The party stated that, though the allegation is at variance with the realities on the ground, its will deploy all legal, constitutional and administrative means to protect our victory in the forthcoming election.
Kogi APC stated that it is contesting to win the election, free and fair because its candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, enjoys massive acceptance of the people of the state.
“Some are in the contest to take donations to service their prodigal and irresponsible lifestyle while some are out to negotiate for the future.
“Dino Melaye whose “ticket” set fire on the PDP, leading to the detection of key leaders and officials of the party at all levels, knows that he stands no chance in the forthcoming election.
“Hence, his usual drama of raising false alarms and claims that do not exist. The game is over for him.
“We challenge the abandoned PDP governorship candidate to submit his claims to security agencies and be ready to defend them.
“With two senators, six House of Reps members, 22 House of Assembly Members, 21 Council Chairmen and all the ward councillors in the state, APC has all the required political structure to win a free and fair governorship poll.
“Our governor has done so well that the people will endorse his party as they have always done since 2015.
“Our governor is known across Nigeria for his stance on security and how effective his security architecture has been.
“Anyone planning mayhem on November 11 will meet his waterloo as an attack on the governorship Poll will be met with stiff resistance from the forces of law and security,” Fanwo stated in the release.
Kogi APC urged the people of the state to remain calm and vote enmasse for its candidate in the election.
The party claimed that it has changed the state for good, adding: “It won’t be about noisemaking at the end of the day. It is about what we have done for the people as the party in power and the quality of our candidate.”
