Akwa Ibom PDP urges security agencies to investigate Akpabio over inciting comment

Akpabio

• Police commissioner warns against overheating polity
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on security agencies to investigate alleged threat of ‘war’ declared on the state by former Minority Senate Leader, God’swill Akpabio ahead of the 2019 elections.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Ini Emembong, made the call in a statement in Uyo yesterday, saying Akpabio made the comment during the burial of his wife’s late grandmother in Enugu.

According to him, Akpabio told his audience that: “In 2019, Warsaw shall see war and war shall see Warsaw. The 2019 elections will be a full-scale war and my party-the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win.”

He also alleged that Akpabio, a former governor of the state, who recently defected to APC, vowed to use any known or unknown forces to take over the state in 2019.

“Security agencies should investigate a statement of such magnitude. They should invite the former governor for questioning and explanation of his comments.

“Also, if the state witnesses any violence between September 2018 and in the months preceding the elections, Akpabio should be held responsible,” the statement reads.

Emembong added that the PDP has ruled the state since 1999 and under Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom does not encourage and will not subscribe to violence under any guise.

The PDP also accused the APC of always insisting that Akwa Ibom will be captured in 2019 using federal might, stressing that the party and the people of the state view Akpabio’s comments as a confirmation of APC’s war disposition against the state.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi, has warned politicians against overheating the state polity due to electioneering activities ahead of the 2019 polls.

He, however, denied allegation that suspected gunmen attacked Akpabio’s residence and disrupted a political meeting on Tuesday.

He confirmed that the meeting lasted till the early hours of yesterday amid tight security following gun scare close to Akpabio’s residence at Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Council of the state.

The CP said although there was exchange of gunshots by security officials at the meeting, six hoodlums on two motorcycles invaded a filling station near Akpabio’s house, robbing customers and the pump attendants of the day’s sales.

Corroborating the report, Anietie Ekong, Media Aide to Akpabio, confirmed the shooting, saying: “The Police arrived early to put the situation under control.”