PDP accuses FG , APC of using force to capture A’Ibom

The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Akwa Ibom has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government of using intimidation to capture the state for the ruling party.

In a press conference Thursday night, the state chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo said the party has uncovered plan by the FG to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to haunt state government officials, as a prelude to freezing the accounts of the state.

Ekpo said the siege on the State House of Assembly by the police and the frequent change of commissioners of police was parts of plots to capture the state by force.

He said the impression that APC was trying to make the state ungovernable so that a state emergency would be declared ahead of next year’s general election.

The PDP boss, however, said the party would not be intimidated by the actions of the federal government.

Ekpo said the invasion of the state house of assembly by the five sacked APC lawmakers was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution by any court stopping the Speaker from declaring their seats vacant.

“The invasion of the house of assembly with thugs by Mr. Idongesit Ituen, one of the sacked lawmaker representing Itu state constituency was done in bad faith as there was no stay of execution issued by any court of law against the speaker in respect of Ituen’s case”, he said.

He argued that the schemes of APC were to bring Governor Udom Emmanuel in a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The People’s Democratic Party has invited you this evening to alert Nigerians, international communities, and indeed the whole world of attempts by the All Progressives Congress in collusion with security agencies to make the state ungovernable and possibly declare a state
of emergency to pave way for easy manipulations of elections results in 2019.

“It is pertinent to note that we have uncovered a fresh plot by the APC to use the EFCC to clamp down on Akwa Ibom State government accounts. This is another desperate attempt by the APC to paralyse the activities of the government of Akwa Ibom State.

“In view of the foregoing, we make this extant demand: that the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, should as a matter of urgency, cause the troops laying siege at the premise of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to vacate with immediate effect and cease forthwith, further intimidation of officials of Akwa Ibom government and principal officers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly,” he said.