Dino Melaye, the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 11 election in Kogi State, has leveled serious allegations against the incumbent Governor of the state. Melaye claims that the Governor has been importing thugs from Ogun, Lagos, and Oyo State with the aim of intimidating voters.
During a press conference held on Thursday, Melaye accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of distributing counterfeit police uniforms and camouflage to APC-affiliated thugs. These individuals are allegedly to pose as law enforcement officers, both policemen and soldiers, in an attempt to create chaos and fear among the state’s innocent citizens on election day.
Melaye disclosed, “Intelligence available to our campaign reveals that the APC has sown fake police uniforms, camouflage which has already been brought into Kogi state and is ready to be distributed among APC thugs to parade as policemen and soldiers and unleash terror on innocent Kogites on election day.”
The former Senator went on to assert that the Kogi state governor is mobilizing a group of thugs and hoodlums from Ijebu in Ogun state. Furthermore, he alleged that additional hired thugs have been summoned from Lagos and Saki in Oyo State.
Melaye’s accusations come at a time when the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has granted police officers deployed for election duties the authority to take decisive actions against anyone planning to undermine the conduct of the off-cycle election in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa.
As Governor Yahaya Bello, currently serving his second term, works to ensure the victory of the ruling party’s candidate, Usman Ododo, in the upcoming governorship election, these allegations from the PDP candidate add a layer of controversy to the political landscape in Kogi State.
