PDP Leaders Accuse APC of Vandalising Properties in Akpabuyo

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akpabuyo and Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State have accused the members of the All Progressives Congress of vandalising the properties of PDP leaders in the district.

They made the allegation on Wednesday in Calabar in a statement read on their behalf by a governorship aspirant and the founder of Arthur Jarvis University, Sir Arthur Jarvis-Archibong.

According to them, they organised the news conference to “bring to the attention of the press and the public, the carnage and consistent attacks on members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akpabuyo Local Government Area since Sunday 5 February, 2023. You will recall that on Tuesday 24 January, 2023 when our party held its governorship campaign rally in Akpabuyo, some miscreants sponsored by the All Progressives Congress attempted to disrupt by firing gun shots within the venue.

“That attempt was swiftly contained by the security officers who accompanied our campaign team to the Local Government Area. The current barbaric attacks on our members in the area began shortly after APC leaders held a meeting on Sunday 5 February, 2023 at Ikot Oyom, Akpabuyo.

“At about 8.15pm, without any provocation miscreants destroyed  billboards of PDP candidates displayed within the private residence of Mr. Amanso Okon Etim, the Chapter Youth Leader of PDP at Atimbo. They did not stop at that, they went on to break into his house and destroyed his household properties. At the time of the attack, Mr. Amanso was in Calabar to attend a party meeting.”

They further alleged that “After that first attack, the hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous weapons moved on and carried out an all-night attacks on the residences and business premises of our party leaders and supporters within Atimbo East and Atimbo West wards. Some of the victims are Mr. Amanso Okon Etim, Hon. Francis Ekeng, the State Organising Secretary of our party, Hon. Francis Effanga the Director-General of our Senatorial Candidate, the Chairman Atimbo West ward, Elder Effiom Edet Ekpo. Others include: Mr. Innocent Atsenudiara, Edet Okon Etim (aka Sunny), Emmanuel Eyo, Saviour Maurice, amongst others.”

They said they made desperate calls to the Police Quick Intervention Teams but nothing was done, alleging that the miscreants, many of whom were clearly identified, continued the attacks on Monday night on the residence of Hon. Orok Ekeng, Hon. Ikpeme Erete, and repeated at Mr. Amanso’s residence.

“We brought these acts of unwarranted attacks and provocation to the attention of the authorities by writing to the State Police Commissioner, the AIG, Zone 6 and the DSS. But as we speak, nothing has been done to abet these acts of terrorism. No single security team has been deployed to the area. These hoodlums are now having an unhindered environment to attack innocent residents of the area,” they said.

They further alleged that, “We are aware of the plans of the APC leadership and their collaborators to provoke our supporters into a retaliation so that they can find reasons to deploy their usual boastful power of incumbency and use security agents to arrest and detain our supporters before the forthcoming elections. That is why we have consistently prevailed on our supporters not to react.

“We are hereby calling on the security agencies to urgently take actions to secure lives and properties in the area and also arrest those who have been identified and reported to them as the perpetrators of these wicked acts. The continued patience of our supporters if nothing is done to protect them as they may be forced to protect themselves.

“We cannot guarantee  the patience of our members anymore. We call on the leaders of the APC in the state and Akpabuyo Local Government Area, who are the sponsors of these acts of brigandage to stop forthwith as we are prepared for a peaceful elections.”

One of the APC stalwarts and House of Representatives candidate, Joseph Bassey, however denied the allegations.