The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the attack on its campaign rally on Thursday in Port-Harcourt, with improvised explosive devices (IED) detonated and rapid gunfire, as an assault on democracy.

In a statement, Felix Morka, its national publicity secretary, described the attack as despicable. He added that the development represented a new and dangerous dimension in the country’s political violence in the build-up to the February 25 and March 22 elections.

“This is a matter of national concern. Nigerians deserve to know and must be reassured that attending opposition campaign rallies in Rivers state is not akin to a journey of no return to the front lines of illicit and orchestrated war. Every citizen, irrespective of partisan political affiliation, is entitled to equal protection of law,” the APC chieftain explained.

He added, “As the chief security officer of the state, Governor Nyesom Wike must do his duty to offer equal protection of the law to all citizens of the state. He must work with law enforcement agencies to solve this heinous crime, prevent a recurrence and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Mr Morka said the detonation of IEDs and gunfire at the rally resulted in several casualties among APC members and supporters. He alleged that suspected thugs of an opposition political party carried out the attack.

According to the APC scribe, the attackers were on a mission to disrupt and disperse the rally at the traditional grounds of Rumuwoji in the Mile 1 area of Port-Harcourt. He explained that the rally was convened in accordance with all applicable constitutional and legal standards.

“The escalation of violence calculated to intimidate and scuttle legitimate campaign activities by opposition political parties in Rivers state is unacceptable and must stop,” the APC statement said. “The perpetrators and victims of campaign violence are all Nigerians and we cannot permit or excuse anyone to inflict harm, maim or kill others on account of political partisanship. That is the direct antithesis of our democratic norms and negates the greatness of our national democratic aspiration.”

He called on the inspector general of police to investigate the attack, stressing that statements credited to the police command in Rivers that no explosion at the rally undermined the urgency and seriousness of the matter.

(NAN)