What would have turned into a bloody political clash was this morning averted in Umuahia the Abia State capital when members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) attacked men fixing flex banners belonging to the People’s Democratic Party and destroyed their campaign materials
The incident took place around Okpara Square roundabout near the walls of the former Umuahia main market when thugs numbering over ten from Prof. Greg Ibe’s campaign office wielding machetes, clubs, and other dangerous weapons suddenly appeared and attacked the men fixing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign banners and destroying the iron works and the flex banners already mounted. They also threatened to kill anybody who tried to stop them.
It took the intervention of men of the Nigerian Police Force and passersby who insisted that the thugs should stop the destruction to get the situation under control, the hoodlum upon sighting the police ran into Prof. Greg Ibe’s campaign office.
In an interview with a PDP stalwart who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said he has a written permit and authority of Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSAA) to mount the PDP campaign billboards in that space and showed our reporter a copy of the permit.
Some passersby interviewed confirmed that the attack on the men mounting the flex banners and the destruction of the PDP campaign materials was without provocation and an act of political violence by the APGA and should be condemned by every Abian.
They advised political parties to shun violence and allow peace to reign during this campaign period.
Recall that in September a member of the PDP media team, Mr Onyekachi Success was attacked by a set of unknown hoodlums close to his World Bank residence with his phones, cash, and other valuables taken.
Credit:
The News-Gazette Online