Two days ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) planned to import militants to intimidate voters and disrupt the polls in areas believed to be APC Strongholds in order to deplete the final votes that would accrue to the party after the eventual count.
APC said the PDP embarked on this venture as a result of the opinion polls from various media outlets that have given the APC estimated 85 per cent of votes in Kogi Central, 65 per cent in Kogi West and 55 per cent of the votes in Kogi East.
Ohikere said that the militants were being smuggled from Edo, Delta and other South Western States, adding that : “We have intelligence that the PDP in their desperation are plotting and snuggling militants from beyond our state to come and wreak havoc and intimidate voters on the election day. Their plan is to convey them to APC Strongholds to disrupt the poll in these places so as to deplete our votes.
“So that votes from potential APC voters will minimize to the barest minimum. In Kogi East also, the same arrangements have been put on ground, so that voters do not freely move around to exercise their franchise. The intelligence indicates areas like Olamaboro and Igalamela as the target.
Ohikere, who called on the Inspector General of police and other security outfits to do the needful and create the desired environment for voters to exercise their constitutional right, said the IG should send his men to these areas and their adjoining borders to enforce only lawful movements as well as vigilantly investigate emanating breach of security.
“The security agencies should take note of the areas mentioned and mount extra surveillance to arrest the situation before it degenerates into open mayhem as intended by the PDP.
“We are watching, we want our supporters to enjoy their freedom and right to vote and not to be precluded by the malevolent designs of the PDP because violence and intimidation have always been their way of winning elections,” he said.
