Armed thugs suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have invaded the venue of the ongoing rally for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Kaduna.

The thugs brandishing dangerous weapons such as swords and machetes were said to have forced their way into the venue of the rally in an attempt to scuttle the event. 

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, broke the news of the invasion via his Twitter handle on Monday afternoon. 

“Thugs just invaded the Atiku Rally venue in Kaduna with swords and machetes,” Mr Sani wrote on Twitter.

But in a swift reaction, Mr Abubakar, via his verified Twitter handle called on President Muhammadu Buhari to warn all political parties to call their supporters to order.

The PDP candidate, who described the incident as “undemocratic”, said it was against the peace accord political parties participating in the 2023 election signed a fortnight ago. 

“I have just received emergency reports of attacks on PDP supporters by thugs sponsored to scuttle the ongoing PDP campaign rally in Kaduna State. This is undemocratic and against the Peace Accord all parties signed up for just a few weeks,” Mr Abubakar tweeted. 

He added, “I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to call on all parties to call their supporters and members to order and to ensure that campaigns, just as with the elections themselves, are kept free, fair, and safe.”

Last week, a former Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mike Ejiofor, had identified political violence among the major parties as threats to the 2023 general elections.