PDP Releases List Of Key Members Allegedly Marked For Death By APC [SEE FULL LIST]

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.



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.

-Naij