Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase has explained that he directed police deployment to secure the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Secretariat and protect the workers till the threat to internal security arising from the intra-party crisis is resolved.
Arase said this in a statement issued in Abuja by Olabisi Kolawole, an acting Commissioner of Police, who is the Force Public Relations Officer.
The statement said the directive followed intelligence reports that some aggrieved factional leaders and members of PDP had perfected plans to engage thugs to threaten public peace and security in Abuja.
It said the threat followed the on-going intra-party leadership crisis in the party and fallout of the political engagements of the party.
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The statement said the plan of the brains behind the development was to infiltrate Abuja and attack the national headquarters of PDP with intent to forcibly occupy the facility.
“Towards perfecting this criminality, credible police sources confirm that the actors will mobilise into Abuja with effect from May 23 to march through major streets in Abuja before proceeding to the PDP Secretariat to manifest their intention,” it said.
The statement added that the police action was a proactive initiative being emplaced in furtherance to its statutory mandate to prevent breakdown of law and order.
It warned all actors in the crisis and their loyalists to refrain from any act that might threaten public order as the police would deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group.
The PDP held parallel conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja at the weekend