The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the violence perpetrated against SDP members in Kogi State’s Eastern Senatorial District.
In a statement released to SAREWA HAUSA on Thursday morning, Isaiah Ijele, Director, New Media, Muri/Sam Campaign Council, made the call.
In response to a video that went viral on social media showing brutal attacks against supporters purportedly loyal to the SDP, Ijele said that such cruel acts of violence have repeatedly marred the political landscape of Kogi State in the past, and that they pose a grave threat to the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Ijele said that authorities should do everything they can to stop politically motivated violence, and that they should avoid making statements that could provoke such assaults or discourage people from supporting the political parties of their choice.
Ijele elaborated on the purported recent attack on their supporters, saying, “in the last 48 hours, this attack was carried out twice in Ajiolo Ojaji in Dekina Local Government where a serving Senator from Kogi East hails from.”
No life is worth the ambition of any politician, thus we must prevent a repeat of the tragedy in Ochadamu, where a woman was burned to death and the incident was labeled as a retaliatory attack. The same thing happened last night at Ofu Local Government’s Ugwolawo.
He further argued that security officials needed to immediately begin a full investigation into the attacks and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
The rights to free speech, association, and peaceful assembly must be properly respected and protected by security agencies before, during, and after the approaching election, Ijele said.
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