Labour Party, APC trade words over political violence ahead 2023 elections

*Tinubu, running mate responsible for violence against opposition – Obi’s spokesman, Ononuju

*Allegations by Ononuju are unfounded – Tinubu’s ally, Segun Faleye

By KEMI KASUMU

On Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, November 14, 2022 when issue of political violence being recorded in parts of the country came up for discussion, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to Dr. Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Katch Ononuju, was quick to point accusing finger at the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu citing cases in his Lagos, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, citing cases in Maiduguri, Borno State.

But in a swift reaction, another discussant introduced as Tinubu’s ally and member of APC, Oluwaseun Faleye, responded saying it was not true as alleged.

Ononuju, accusing Tinubu and Shettima of violence against opposition candidates in APC-controlled states, said: “We are very disturbed about it. When Mr Tinubu and Shettima emerged, we knew their history with violence but we were surprised when we saw the violence visited at a rally in Kaduna, also now repeating itself in Maiduguri. We are very worried, we are also aware that the APC supporters in Lagos have used violence repeatedly.”

However, Faleye, a loyalist of the former Governor of Lagos State, Tinubu on the programme monitored by The DEFENDER, described Ononuju’s allegations as unfounded, noting that Lagos has a history of free and fair elections.

“They (the allegations) are unfounded and that is just it because I don’t understand where he got that from. Historically, Lagos has been the bastion of free and fair elections without violence. Lagos is where all the states look up to as to the conduct of elections. Asiwaju (Tinubu) has been at the forefront of campaigns for peaceful elections,” the APC member stated.

Both men, however, agreed that security agencies must bring perpetrators of political violence to book to deter others.

When asked whether Obi supporters known as ‘Obidients’ are not also guilty of attacking opposition parties or not, Ononuju said LP supporters are emotional crusaders but are not violent.

“Labour Party supporters are vehement, emotional crusaders. These are supporters that were on the streets before Mr Peter Obi provided a face for their struggle.

“These are not normal politicians; these are Nigerian youths and Nigerian youths are not known to be violent. When they were protesting two years ago when this revolution took shape, the government tried to violently suppress them but the government was not able to,” he said.

According to the LP chieftain, ‘Obidients’ have suffered more in the hands of the government than any other group of people.

“That is why we seek to build a new Nigeria that will be inclusive in the rights of citizens not to be violated and molested by government as were the case,” he said.

Reportedly, a convoy of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, was reportedly attacked by hoodlums in Borno State last Wednesday. The PDP and the ruling APC have traded blames over the incident.

A rally by the former Vice President in Kaduna on October 17, 2022 was also disrupted by thugs.

With about three months to the next general elections, political violence seems to be on the increase with some recorded in parts of Zamfara and Lagos states, spreading fears about the safety of voters at the polls in 2023.

Also, there have been increasing attacks on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the latest being on Thursday when hoodlums burnt two offices of the electoral body in Ogun and Osun states, destroying 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), 904 ballot boxes, among others.

Worried by the endless attacks, INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu on Friday held an emergency meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

Yakubu said about 50 attacks have been recorded across the country since campaigns began on September 28, 2022.

The INEC boss urged the committee to take decisive action to nip such occurrences in the bud.