APC, PDP, APGA bicker over destruction of billboards, vehicles

AS the February general elections draw near, supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and leading opposition party the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), are trading blames over destruction of campaign billboards and vehicles, which has prompted Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar to threaten to arrest the PDP governorship candidate, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, who is also his father-in-law.

Addressing hundred supporters of APC at Bukkuyum, headquarters of Bukkuyum Local Council in continuation of his local council tour campaign, Governor Yari described Shinkafi’s campaign tour as a threat to the security of the state following reports of destruction of properties belonging to APC supporters in some parts of Zurmi and Shinkafi Local Councils during PDP campaign rally in the areas.

He pledged to compensate the APC supporters, who were victims of the incident.

“Let me give my father in law and PDP gubernatorial candidate a last warning that henceforth he will be held responsible for any violence recorded during his visit to any local council of the state. As the chief security officer of the state I will make sure that you my father-in-law faces the wrath of the law instantly after the incident. I will like to remind you that I am the chief security officer of the state and if you feel I am joking allow your campaign team to cause violence in the next local council visited and you will see how I will direct security personnel to arrest you,” said Yari.

However, reacting to the statement in a FRCN Pride FM radio programme, the PDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, described the governor’s claimed as baseless, unfounded, and was informed because of the PDP popularity in the state which he (Yari) believes will consume his ruling party during the next month general elections.

He said there was no record of violence either in Zurmi or in Shinkafi towns during his Saturday (weekend) campaigns in the two local councils, except at Moriki where vigilante group members hired by APC party allegedly attacked PDP campaign team and burnt some vehicles belonging to PDP supporters.

Already the state PDP governorship running mate, Alhaji Malami Aliyu Yandoto weekend alleged “massive destruction of PDP presidential and governorship candidates’ billboards in major parts of the state by the state roads traffic engaged by the present administration.”

Briefing reporters alleging destruction of PDP presidential/running mate candidates billboards at the residence of the State PDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, the state PDP governorship running mate, Alhaji Malami Aliyu Yandoto, alleged that the state road traffic control corps (ZAROTA) were contrarily being used as political thugs to destroy billboards and posters that feature the President Goodluck Jonathan and the party gubernatorial candidate, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi across the state.

In a related development, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, has alleged that suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs attacked his convoy and vandalized the party’s offices in Talatan Mafara and Maradun Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking at a news conference in Gusau on Saturday, Shinkafi noted that the attack had left five of their members injured, while 15 of their vehicles were vandalised.