Youths in Benue State have trooped out in their thousands in makurdi to protest against an alleged plan to turn the state to a a military zone ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

The youths carried placards, some of which read “we say no to the militarization of Benue”, where was the military when our people were butchered by armed herdsmen”, “don’t use the military to rig Benue elections”, APC doesn’t drag the military into politics.”

Recall that the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had alleged that the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government plans to unleash mayhem during Saturday’s Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

 

The founding member of the Movement Against Fulani Occupation, MAFO, Pastor Dave Ogbole, who spoke on behalf of the youths said that they were aware of the plot to send top military personnel for the coming Saturday election.

Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP national spokesman, in a statement on Wednesday, said Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Anambra, Rivers, Taraba, Abia, Gombe and Delta States are to be “flooded with Mobile Police Officers from various parts of the country specifically for the purpose of helping the APC rig the elections and return the states to the APC.”

“In furtherance, the APC have resolved that polls will be shifted or disrupted in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue and Taraba States so that the military can concentrate on those states on the rescheduled dates.”

Meanwhile the Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the federal government and the All Progressives Congress to arrest prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state who are perceived to be close to him.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, which was made available to our correspondent on Thursday, said no fewer than six prominent members of the PDP had been earmarked for elimination or arrest few days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections over a false charge of gun-running.He listed some of the targeted PDP members to include, Mr. Abraham Kwaghngu; Mr. Anthony Shawon;  Mr. David Tsevende;  Dr. Cletus Tyokyaa;  Avine Agbom; Matthew Mnyam;  Mr. Raymond Asema; David Iorhemba and John Enger.

 

 

 

SOURCE: DAILYPOST,PUNCH

 

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