January 31, (THEWILL) – The Niger State Police Command has said the disruption of a rally organised by Project 774, a political group being coordinated by the Deputy Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, was to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The event was meant to rally support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Umar Mohammed Bago.
The New Bussa Township Stadium in the Borgu Local Government Area of the state, the venue of the event, was completely shut as early as 7am by security agencies.
Armed security personnel consisting of men of the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Roads Safety Corps, and Vigilantes, prevented people from accessing the Stadium.
A statement by the Spokesperson of the Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said the action was to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
“The Police had to take over the venue of the planned rally, as a proactive measure due to intelligence received of likely breach of security at the venue.
“Hence, we have to do the needful to avert any possible attack or hijack by suspected miscreants to cause mayhem and breach of peace in the community.
“The Command will not fold its arms and allow acts of political violence, avoidable loss of life, destruction of properties and lawlessness,” he said
The organiser of the rally, Abdullahi, had through his Special Assistant (operations), Mohammed Garba Danladi, in a letter dated 27/01/2023 and addressed to the Party Chairman, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, notified the APC of the planned rally.
Senator Abdullahi in the letter also stated that the State Working Committee of the party were invited to the Grand Lockdown Rally for the candidates and their running mates on the need to galvanise support and positively enhance the party at the polls.
Part of the letter read, “I am directed to invite you and your exco to the Grand Lockdown Rally in honour of Jagaban Borgu and Kashim Shettima, our party Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Hon. Mohammed Bago, with Comrade Yakubu Garba as Gubernatorial and Deputy Governorship Candidates for Niger state in the 2023 General Elections.
“In view of the need to galvanise support and positively enhance the chances of our party in the forthcoming elections, we wish to solicit and count on your unflinching support towards the success of the rally.”
However, the State Working Committee of the party in a statement in Minna, on Monday, by its Publicity Secretary, Mallam Musa Dan Sarkindaji, said the Chairman of the party, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, has disassociated itself from the rally.
The statement, titled “Niger APC Disassociated Herself From Lockdown Rally in Borgu” and signed by the Publicity Secretary, also directed all party faithful not to honour and attend such rally, claiming that the planned rally contravenes the unified campaign structure as designed by the party.
Part of the statement, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, under the leadership of Hon Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, has disassociated itself from lockdown rally organised in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of the State.
“The party wishes to draw the attention of all party faithfuls not to honour and attend such rally as it contravenes with unified campaign structure as designed by the party.”
The Party urged its Executives, stakeholders and party loyalists to attend the grand zonal rally, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 2nd of February, 2023, at Bida, headquarters of Bida Local Government.
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