The Kogi State Government has refuted claims made by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that its witnesses appearing before the ongoing election petition tribunal were assaulted by agents of the state government.
The SDP has contested the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2023 governorship election.
On Friday, the SDP leadership raised concerns about alleged attacks on its members who were serving as witnesses before the Kogi State gubernatorial election tribunal, located at the National Judiciary Institute in Abuja.
Shehu Musa Gabam, the party’s National Chairman, called upon President Bola Tinubu and the leaders of the nation’s security forces to intervene in the interest of national security.
However, Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information, countered these allegations during a press briefing held on Saturday in Lokoja, the state capital. Fanwo stated that there was insufficient evidence to support the SDP’s assertion that their witnesses were targeted and attacked at the tribunal.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to a headless allegation by the Social Democratic Party to the effect that the state government allegedly attacked their witnesses in the ongoing tribunal.
“The allegation drifted into the abyss further by claiming that supporters of the thoroughly defeated candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the election, one Muritala Ajaka, were attacked.
“We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the barking of the SDP and its leadership as the state government is busy with governance, but it is important to set the record straight and address the minds of the public to the tradition of lies by the SDP.”
The commissioner said the state government, under the leadership of Ahmed Ododo, will be undaunted in its resolve to serve the people of the state rather than be entangled in the propaganda by the SDP.
“The Kogi State Government is unwavering in its stance on security and constitutionalism as the basic minimum in ensuring a peaceful and secured state.
“It is important to enlighten the SDP about the fact that the case at the tribunal is between parties of which the state government isn’t one. It is the responsibility of the government to protect all citizens irrespective of their political or religious persuasions”, Fanwo said.
“It is clear that SDP’s petition is suffering an irreversible setback at the tribunal as the comedians they presented as witnesses probably didn’t rehearse their lines well or they are falling because their claims have their foundation in fiction.
“It will be unacceptable for them to vent their impending failure on the state government that is doing all it can provide security for all in the state,” he added.
He also noted that the state government doesn’t subscribe to violence and actions that breach the peace of the state.”
