The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti, says she was attacked and harassed by thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
She made the allegation in the video embedded above, shortly after the incident which occurred at the venue of the peace meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“On my way to participate in the INEC’s organised political stakeholders meeting … I was attacked and harassed by the APC thugs,” the SDP candidate alleged.
She added, “There were lots of policemen, there were over 500 men from the security agencies in different uniforms.
“I saw some young men in mufti, obviously they are thugs … the first attack was a verbal assault with a man calling me a prostitute.”
Emotional Natasha Breaks Down
Natasha, who broke down in tears while recounting her experience, noted that some armed security operatives witnessed while she was assaulted by the hoodlums.
She, however, claimed that none of them stopped the hoodlums when the incident took place, adding that she was booed and walked out of the venue.
In a swift reaction to the allegation, the APC described the claim by Natasha as a “gallery show of falsehood”.
A statement by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee in Kogi, Kingsley Fanwo, stressed that the APC does not have thugs nor need them to win elections.
According to Fanwo, thuggery is antithetical to the security policy of the Yahaya Bello administration and Kogi has developed a security architecture that has no place for violence and other forms of criminalities since 2016.
“It was on record that Natasha came late to the venue of the parley and instead of explaining her situation to the security aides of the Inspector General of Police, she decided to wrestle with them in her characteristic combative and aggressive manner,” he claimed.
At the event, which held four days to the November 16 governorship election in Kogi, was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, as well as INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, among others.
The event had been going peacefully until commotion occurred when Natasha arrived at the venue and was attacked while attempting to enter the hall where the event was holding.
In the process, a fight broke out while some policemen at the venue dispersed the hoodlums with teargas which affected everyone in the hall, including the IGP and the INEC boss, as well as other dignitaries present.
