PDP Lists Key Members Allegedly Marked For Death By APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
alleged that some of its key members are
currently been targeted and marked for death
by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was disclosed in a statement by Chief
Olisa Metuh, the national publicity secretary
of the PDP in a press conference to address
the alleged assassination attempt on Deputy
Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
Addressing newsmen, Metuh alleged that
Ekweremadu was not the only PDP member
targeted, and other key members allegedly
marked for death include Uche Secondus, the
acting national chairman of the party, Dr.
Haliru Bello, the acting national chairman of
the Board of Trustees, Sen Godswill Akpabio,
the Senate minority leader, and Hon. Leo
Ogor, the minority leader in House of
Representatives, among others, Leadership
reports.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh

He said: “As you are aware, on Tuesday,
November 17, there was brazen attempt at the
life of Ekweremadu on his way to work bringing
to the fore fears that the era of political
assassination may have returned to our dear
country.
“We had also informed Nigerians that key PDP
leaders were being trailed and that the
government should be held responsible should
any of them suddenly become victim of ‘terror
attacks’, unexplained accidents, kidnapped or
suddenly killed by ‘armed robbers’.
“Nigerians are witnesses to the growing
draconian proclivity of this government, the
increasing muzzling of opposition using security
forces, judicial persecution and other devious
means aimed at decimating our party to pave
way for the imposition of one-party state, all in
the desperate bid by this particular regime to
forcefully retain power in 2019.
“The PDP does not mince words in holding the
APC responsible for the Tuesday attempt on the
life of the Deputy Senate President. As you are
well aware, APC leaders have not hidden their
bitterness and resentment towards Senator
Ekweremadu, whose offense is the privilege of
being elected as Deputy Senate President, in
line with the Standing Rules of the Senate and
provisions of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“Is it not shocking that Senator Oluremi Tinubu ,
in furtherance of their plan to take over the
office of the Deputy Senate President, went
ahead at plenary today to occupy his seat and
attempted to assume the duties associated with
that office
“Intelligence information available to us however
indicates that Senator Ekweremadu is not an
isolated target, as notable PDP leaders,
including our Acting BOT Chairman, Bello Haliru
Mohammed, Acting National Chairman, Prince
Uche Secondus National Secretary, Prof.
Adewale Oladipo and members of the National
Working Committee, Senate Minority Leader,
Senator Godswill Akpabio, House Minority
leader, Hon. Leo Ogoh among others have also
been penciled down for assassination.
“We have further information that some
desperate power-mongers close to President
Muhammadu Buhari, particularly those privy to
his interest to contest the 2019 presidential
election, and who have been reading his body
language against the opposition, have gone
ahead to establish a killer squad to wipe off
strong opposition, deeming such a service to
the President.
“This killer squad, our intelligence further
revealed, has key marksmen recruited from
within and outside the country with directives to
trail, track down and hit strategic opposition
elements and instill fear among PDP members.
“Additionally, we have verified reports from our
elected members, especially those in the
National Assembly that agents of the APC and
the government have been approaching and
threatening them to join their party or face
victimization should they refuse.
“We therefore want the international community
to note this ugly development in our country and
hold the government responsible should any
unexplained harm befall any PDP leader. This
government should be held responsible should
any PDP leader be visited by ‘armed robbers’.
“The PDP hereby draws the attention of
President Muhammadu Buhari to this disturbing
development as the onus lies on his to come
our clear and moderate the political temperature
of the country by calling his overbearing party
members and security officials to order.”
Metuh also stated that the ordering of the
arrest of the former national security adviser
(NSA) Sambo Dansuki, was based on the
verdict of a subjective administrative panel,
which was present to indict him.
The PDP spokesman further warned about
the manipulation of the Kogi and Bayelsa
governorship elections using the security
forces and some compromised INEC officials
and called on the Directorate of Military
Intelligence to keep off issues concerning
politicians.
According to him, the PDP has never raised
any false alarm on national issues.

On Tuesday, November 17, the deputy
president of the Senate, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu, reportedly escaped a suspected
assassination attempt.
Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate
president’s spokesperson, said the attempt
occurred on his way to work at about 10am
between Apo Flyover and Dantata
Construction Company’s yard, close to the
Old Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters
junction.
The suspected assassins reportedly operated
in a tinted white-coloured Mercedez Benz
AMG E63 without a plate number. The driver
was a long-bearded light skinned foreigner,
probably a mercenary, Anichukwu said.