By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The Kogi State government in north-central Nigeria has denied the ‘Spurious’ allegation by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) that the Kogi State Government was behind the alleged attack on the SDP witnesses in the ongoing petition before the Kogi state election petition tribunal, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
At a news conference in Lokoja, on Saturday, Kogi State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, dressed down the party and its leadership for making the allegation that the Kogi State government had used thugs to attack the SDP Witnesses after proceeding at the vicinity of the Kogi State election petition tribunal in Abuja.
Fanwo, said the case in which the SDP is challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress in the November 2023 Governorship Poll, has been marked with confutations and refutations, which prompted government reaction to the ‘spurious allegation’ against the Kogi State government.
“The allegation drifted into the abyss further by claiming that supporters of the thoroughly defeated candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the election, one Muritala Ajaka were attacked.
“Kogi State Government did not receive any report of politically stirred crisis and therefore surprised at the blatant, false, spurious and pedestrian claims by the Social Democratic Party in the party’s usual way of whipping up sentiments and spreading falsehood to win public sympathy.
According to Fanwo, the Kogi State Government doesn’t subscribe to violence and actions that breach the peace of the State.
“We will also not accept statements deliberately made to incite the people against the Government and possibly spark panic. The SDP must always be prepared for the consequences of their actions and utterances against the Kogi State Government or its officials,” Fanwo warned SDP.
The Commissioner said Governor Ododo would not renege on his electioneering promise to protect all Kogites irrespective of their political and religious beliefs. And as such, Ododo’s commitment to fulfilling such promises is “iron cast and unimpeachable”.
Fanwo said: “While It is absurd and incomprehensible for the SDP to continue to exhibit anti-democratic tendencies that provoke the sensibility of the people in such a reckless manner, Ododo’s government as a legitimate Government, will not be soiled in the oil of prejudice that the SDP has engaged in with impunity.”
