Kogi Gov’t Denies Attacking SDP Witnesses At Election Tribunal

The Kogi State Government has debunked what it described as a headless allegation by the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) that it masterminded attacks on the party’s witnesses at the State’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja, saying the allegation was not only reckless, but stands logic on its head.

The state government said contrary to what it called propaganda of the SDP, discerning members of the public were following the Tribunal’s proceedings and would know that there was no way anyone would plot an attack against witnesses that were already testifying against those who paid them to testify and doing enough to make SDP lose woefully.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was, however, important to enlighten the SDP that the case at the Election Petitions Tribunal was between parties and that Kogi State Government, which it accused of attacking witnesses, was not a party in the matter.

Fanwo, who spoke at a press conference in Lokoja on Saturday, noted that if any attack did happen as claimed by the SDP, “it must have been stage-managed by the SDP to justify their failure to produce the number of witnesses they claimed to have in line with their modus operandi as witnessed during the campaign.”

“Why would anyone attempt or even attack a witness that has testified against those that paid him to witness for them? The discerning public is following the tribunal case and understands there is no need to attack witnesses that are doing enough to make SDP lose woefully in the law court,” he added.

The state government noted that it was absurd and incomprehensible for the SDP to continue to exhibit anti-democratic tendencies and provoke the sensibility of the people in such a reckless manner, adding that “if they are so confident in their incompetent petition, why resort to self help?”

He said, “We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the barking of the SDP and its leadership as the State Government is busy with governance; but it is important to set the record straight and address the minds of the public to the tradition of lies by the SDP.

“The Governor of Kogi State is a law-abiding gentleman who is working hard to consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past administration. He promised to protect all Kogites irrespective of their political and religious beliefs. His commitment to fulfilling such promises is iron cast and unimpeachable.”

Fanwo urged the people of the State to go about their normal businesses, adding that there won’t be any chance for anyone to attack any Kogite, maintaining that no stone would be left unturned to ensure peace and security in the State.