Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and the state Commissioner of Police Hakeem Adeshina Yusuf have been accused of plotting to abduct the state Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka to Lokoja and frame him with trump-up charges.
The Director of Communications, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka Campaign Organization, Faruk Adejoh-Audu revealed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that part of the plot is to clamp Ajaka into detention and possibly assassinate him.
He said “Details of the plan which began manifesting on Tuesday included hastily arraigning Alhaji Ajaka before a Lokoja Court to legally seal the plot to incarcerate him indefinitely.
“In furtherance of the plot, the State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Adeshina Yusuf who had refused to investigate our petition of attempted assassination against Mr Bello and his gunmen who attacked our motorcade on June 3, 2023 is now stalking our candidate at the behest of Mr Bello to accuse him of been the aggressor in the attack.
Adejoh-Audu said some gun men in Mufti stormed the Khartoum Street in Wuse, Abuja residence at about 12:30pm Tuesday claiming they have been detailed by Mr Yusuf to arrest Alhaji Ajaka for attempted assassination, gun possession and terrorism as a result of the same attack carried out by Mr Bello and his gun men.
“Already Mr Bello has put some of his friendly media editors and social media influencers on cue to disparage the SDP Candidate through stories and commentaries that will portray the candidate as a violent man.
“This elaborate plot is an obvious manifestation to stop the escalating popularity of the SDP Candidate in the November 11 Governorship Elections.
“Mr Bello is a Governor whose administration has attained notoriety for violence, framing up opponents and compromising the institutions of the polity to gain advantage in elections.
Responding, the state government has denied the allegation made by the Campaign council of Ajaka, saying Governor Bello has no clandestine plan to frame up anyone, not to talk about political ‘Lilliputians with questionable character’.
The state commissioner for Information, Kinsgely Fanwo, in a statement on Tuesday night warned that the state government will not tolerate reckless statements and told the security agencies to arrest the current trend by acting decisively against inflammatory statements.
Fanwo said “A lack of action has emboldened some political opportunists to think they can spread lies, incite the people, play politics of ethnic profiling and still get away with them.
The statement said Governor Bello is for all the people of the State and owes them the responsibility to care and as he swore to protect them, and to protect them he shall.
He assured all political parties and candidates of their safety as they go about their electioneering, warning that the state government will not give in to the blackmail of the unpopular candidate of the SDP.
