The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the resumption of its presidential campaign rally, which has not held since the convoy of its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was reportedly attacked in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on 9th November.
According to the Director General of the campaign organisation, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the rally will resume in Gombe on Monday.
The Sokoto State governor said that the Gombe Township Stadium in the state capital would play the host for the presidential campaign rally by 11 am.
He appealed to party members in the state to be present as they “join hands with Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa to recover Nigeria.
“This is to cordially invite all elected PDP Governors, members of the PDP national working committee, national assembly members, PDP NEC members, members of the PDP board of trustees, state chapters, former governors, former ministers, PDP candidates, and stakeholders to the Borno state presidential campaign rally”.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe immediately blamed supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the attack. “It is rather unfortunate that the APC in Borno State mobilised some of its members to attack the convoy carrying dignitaries who had earlier paid a courtesy visit at the Shehu of Borno palace to the venue of the rally.
“While it is well understood that such barbaric behaviour is typical of the APC, it must be noted that, this time around, it is specifically the last kick of a dying horse.
“The APC, apparently overwhelmed by the large turn of supporters to greet our presidential candidate, resorted to anti-democratic actions to scare the crowd away from the rally.
“It is a similar pattern to what happened during our rally in Kaduna State and it is important to call the attention of all stakeholders in peaceful elections in Nigeria to the dangerous actions being undertaken by the APC to disrupt our rallies, especially in the North”, Ibe said.
However, APC Borno State chairman, All Progressives Congress described the claim as false, saying he was “disappointed” over the allegation by the PDP.
