APC condemns arrest, harassment of members in Gombe

The All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm over alleged “systematic arrest, harassment and intimidation” of its members and supporters in Gombe State by the Peoples Democratic Party-led government in the state and the police.

In a statement in Lagos on Friday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the clampdown on the APC in Gombe was similar to what obtained in Bayelsa State, over which the party had cause to raise the alarm on May 14, and was sure to extend to other states as the 2015 general elections approach.

The party said this trend was because of the “desperation and anti-democratic credentials” of the PDP.

It said the situation in Gombe State was marked by the “continuous destruction of APC property, including offices, flags, posters, banners and billboards in most of the local government areas and party headquarters.

APC added, ”Sadly, the police, who are maintained by taxpayers’ funds and are expected to be non-partisan, have been providing cover for the PDP agents who engage in this destructive spree, while being quick to arrest our members and supporters who try to resist the destruction of our party’s property.

”In addition, the police engage in frequent arrest and detention of our youths and supporters, who are then charged to court in an action that is clearly aimed at weakening their resolve to exercise their constitutional rights of free association, and ultimately to destabilize our party.

”Such arrests and intimidation of our youth and other supporters have occurred in Dukku, Balanga, Kaltungo, Akko, Nafada and Gombe, and the latest occurred a few days ago involving the mass arrest of our members, especially youths.”

The party expressed concern that the arrests and other acts of intimidation might increase, as the police in Gombe Division had allegedly been tacitly empowered with a fleet of Hilux vans to destabilize the APC in the state.

It reminded the police that the destabilisation of opposition political parties, arrest and intimidation of opposition members and supporters and the provision of cover for thugs to destroy the property of opposition political parties were not part of the constitutional duties of the police.

”On our part, we will continue to monitor and document these acts of brigandage and the role of the police, with a view to ensuring that they are lawfully challenged in due course. We also call on the police hierarchy to caution their officers and men in Gombe,” it said.