Thugs torch SDP secretariat in Kogi as party chairman accuses APC of arson, violence

Barely five days to the governorship election in Kogi State, suspected thugs have set fire to the Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lokoja.
Freedom Online learned that the building was razed on Monday about 1am with valuable items such as furniture, documents, electrical equipment and campaign materials burnt.
The building, which is located few metres away to the state police command headquarters in Lokoja, was reported vandalised on Saturday by suspected armed thugs.
SDP rented the building from AVM Ndatsu Umaru, a former military governor of Kwara and Kano states.
When contacted, Mr Akeem Busari, the Police Commissioner, confirmed the incident and said the police had launched investigation into the arson with a view to identifying and bringing the perpetrators to book.
Incidence of attacks had increased in the state in the past few days, causing fear and tension among the residents.
In his reaction, the state Chairman of the SDP, Alhaji Mukhtar Atima, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the attack.
He said the obvious fear of defeat starring APC in the face made it to “release their boys to unleash terror on our party .”
Aside this, he said that the governorship candidate of the party, Mrs Natasha Akpoti, had been receiving threats from some quarters.
”No amount of harassment and destruction will deter the party and its governorship candidate from contesting and winning the Nov 16 election,” he said .
He appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful and not to be deterred by provocative and uncivil conducts of members of the ruling party.
But, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Chairman, Media Committee, Bello/Onoja Campaign Organisation, denied allegations that the hoodlums were sponsored by the APC.
He said that Bello and the leadership of the party were currently engaged in rigorous campaigns , saying that ” there is no time for irrelevant issues now.”
Meanwhile, a member representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Mr Tajudeen Adefisoye, has condemned the setting ablaze of the SDP secretariat.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Oluyemi Fasipe, on Monday in Akure, Adefisoye condemned the incessant attacks on SDP Secretariat and its members in Kogi.
He said that barely five days to the governorship election in the state in the early hours of Monday, unknown hoodlums set the SDP secretariat in Lokoja on fire.
The lawmaker, who is the only SDP member in the National Assembly, rued the culture of political intolerance and ‘do or die’ brand of politics being practised in Kogi State and said this should be condemned by every right-thinking Nigerian.
“This attack on our party secretariat and members of the party in Lokoja is condemnable and those in charge of the state’s security architecture must get to the root of it.
“This same secretariat was attacked on Sunday and its doors and windows were shattered, while campaign materials, posters and banners were also destroyed.
“It is most unfortunate that the failure of security agents to act was what emboldened the political thugs to set the whole secretariat ablaze early on Monday morning.
“We are only preparing for an election and not a war. Those trying to create an atmosphere of war in the run-up to the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State should be reined in as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adefisoye urged all the supporters of SDP gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State, Mrs Natasha Akpoti, to remain law-abiding and not to contemplate avenging the attacks so far launched on the party by sponsored political thugs.