Agatu Killings Benue South Peoples’ Punishment For Rejecting APC In Re-run Polls – PDP

PDPThe Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the recent killings in Agatu Local Government Area of the state was retribution for the victory of its candidate in the recently held Benue South senatorial district re-run election, David Mark.
The party made the allegation on Monday when a delegation led by its chairman, Agbo Emmanuel, visited the National Chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, at the national secretariat of the opposition party in Abuja.
Mr. Emmanuel said the delegation was at the party headquarters to brief Mr. Sheriff on the state of PDP in Benue state.
Mr. Emmanuel stated that the state chapter of the party was doing well as demonstrated by the Mr. Mark’s victory in the rerun elections.
He, however, said that the party faced serious challenge following the victory of Mark in the last re-run.
“Several members of our party were beaten, severely injured and maimed while also having their properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
“It is noteworthy that in spite of these acts of brigandage, the people of Benue South stood their ground and voted massively to elect Senator David Mark as their Senator”.
He added that the All Progressives Congress, APC, had refused to accept defeat.
“Benue had also witnessed massive attacks on several communities in Agatu Local Government Area. This resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and property worth billions of naira.
“We have reason to believe that this recent attack on the Agatu people was punishment for their resolve to vote overwhelmingly for Sen. Mark”.
He called on Mr. Sheriff to use his good offices to call attention of the Federal Government and the international community to the plight of people of the Benue South Senatorial District.
In his response, Mr. Sheriff said the party is putting its house in order to achieve victory in future elections.
He said by the time the party reconciled with its aggrieved members, it would make the desire attainable.
“Winning rerun election at this time in Benue state is very important to us in PDP because we always say that Benue State is for PDP.
“It is our in-house problem that created what made us to lose election and we are putting our house in order.
“I have promised to talk with everybody to come back to enable us to rebuild the party so that we can work as a team”, he said.
The chairman also commended the leadership and members of the party in Benue over the re-election of Mark, who has made history by contesting election into the Senate six times, and winning for the same number of times.
“The victory of Mark is a clear demonstration that Benue is for PDP”.
He also commended them for not taking the laws into their hands on the ongoing attack in some parts of the state.
Sheriff promised to present their matter to the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies for appropriate action.
“As a party, we will be law-abiding but our rights should not be taken for granted; for us leaders here, we will follow it up to make sure that none of our members are intimidated for nothing”.

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