Police in Jigawa State have teargassed members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Gumel Local Government Area for allegedly holding a campaign without police approval.
The Jigawa state chapter of the Peoples Democratic party had gathered in Gumel Local Government to flag off zonal campaign for the 2019 general election.
Speaking to newsmen, the Jigawa North West vice chairman and former Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim Gumel said the party had already written to the commissioner of police, seeking permission 48 hrs before the campaign, which he granted formally.
“It was today in the morning that the commissioner of police called our chairman committee on security for the 2019 election campaign notifying him that we have to cancel our rally because he realized that it was a market.
“And for over 20 years, it has been our tradition to hold a rally on the same day and in history, we have never recorded any act of violence.
“Over 150,000 members have been mobilized for the rally from the state and visitors from outside have arrived the state since, so there is no way you can stop them because they have already started coming.
“It’s quite unfortunate when we came to the venue and police sealed the area and teargas our members,” he said.
He, therefore, accused APC of masterminding the issue, threatened to drag the party and state commissioner of police to court.
Contacting the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdu Jinjiri, he told DAILY POST that he was not briefed on the issue, but promised to get back to the press later.
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