Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday condemned what he called the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on PDP Congress in Zamfara State by thugs. Atiku decried that the mayhem which disrupted the congress was a bad omen for democracy and free and fair elections in the country.
Atiku in a statement in Abuja argued that there was no justification for violently attacking members of the opposition party by thugs, adding that “these kinds of criminal activities should not be tolerated by either the leaders of the ruling party or the opposition.”
Atiku stated that such open lawlessness by suspected supporters of the ruling party is an invitation to anarchy which will create conditions that make free and fair elections difficult.
The former Vice President called on the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the violent attack on the Zamfara State PDP members and supporters.
Atiku noted that the police should be politically neutral in law enforcement in the country so that members of the ruling party might not be given the impression that they are above the law.
The former Vice President noted that the refusal to arrest and prosecute those involved will encourage future impunity, adding that no group of people should feel unprotected from thuggery because of their political affiliation.