The People’s Democratic Party in Osun state on Thursday accused the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress of planning an attack at the site of a court hearing against the victory of state governor Ademola Adeleke.
Earlier, the APC had demanded increased security inside the State Superior Court premises, the site of the Court’s panel hearing their petition in the July 16 gubernatorial election, to prevent a collapse of the law and the order.
The parties in the matter are expected to submit their final written addresses to the panel led by Judge Tetsea Kume on Friday.
The demand for more security was contained in a statement issued by the interim president of the state APC, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal, who asked the command of the state police and other security agencies to act with a view to nipping the violence of those who He referred. as “disgruntled politicians.”
Lawal also challenged the security officers assigned to the Tribunal headquarters to carry out their duties without fear or favoritism with the display of civility while carrying out their official responsibilities.
The APC statement read in part: “Let me appeal to the Osun State Police Command and other sister security agencies in the state not to treat the issue of security in and out of court lightly.
“Our party members should continue their usual culture of decorum regardless of provocation from any quarter to be active participants in watching for the imminent light at the end of the tunnel.”
Reacting to the Osun APC’s call for increased security around the Tribunal session venue and alarm over a planned attack on the session, the PDP, in a statement signed by its interim president, Adekunle Akindele, called on the police to invite the Osun APC president, Lawal, and his media adviser, Kola Olabisi, for questioning, adding that the opposition party only adopted a “subterfuge of leveling charges in a plot it has perfected.”
“Members of the public will recall that a few months ago, two APC members were arrested with loaded weapons at the entrance to the State High Court while the Court process was ongoing. Only the prompt intervention of vigilant members of the public saved the situation that day.
“When the APC now raises the alarm about a planned attack, we are apprehensive. We have a feeling that the APC has a sinister plot to launch an attack on the Tribunal session. Aware of their very bad case in Court, the APC is plotting to create chaos to disrupt the session.
“Accordingly, we call on the Commissioner of Police to invite the APC Acting Chairman and Media Advisor for questioning. The duo likely have an idea of the alleged plot to disrupt the Tribunal. Their testimonies will help the Police to maintain law and order.
“We also take this opportunity to reassure the public that the state government is aware of the situation. No opposition party will be able to turn Osun into a battlefield. Tomorrow’s session will be peaceful and we are convinced that the Court will eventually validate and confirm the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State”, concluded Akindele.
Reacting to the PDP accusation in a telephone conversation with the punch On Thursday night, Osun APC spokesman Olabisi said the PDP should be ignored as the accusation was a figment of the party’s imagination.
He said: “They (the PDP) should be ignored. The accusation is a product of your imagination. There is nothing like that.”
