APC blames ex Deputy Speaker’s murder on PDP

The All Progressives Congress, APC in Akwa Ibom has indicted the Vice Chairman of Ukanafun council, Mr Effiom Abai over the murder of the party’s House of Assembly candidate for the constituency, Mr Okon Uwah.
Nigerian Pilot reports that Uwah, a former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly was allegedly murdered by thugs led by Abai during a political meeting with his supporters at Ward three in Ukanafun on Wednesday.
Deputy Director General of the APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, Barr Effiong Okwong told a press conference in Uyo that Abai’s action was also triggered by incisive statements earlier made by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that they would not tolerate opposition in the state.
“The party notes with the deepest concern that the foundation for Uwah’s assassination was laid at a PDP rally in Oruk Anam in February this year when Hon Emmanuel Ukoette, PDP member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency on live television called on PDP supporters to kill whoever opposes the party in the state.
“Those who carried out the assassination led by Hon Effiom Abai, Ukoette’s campaign coordinator and current Vice Chairman of Ukanafun must have done so being spurred on by the inciting statements made by PDP leaders in the state.
“It would be recalled that Uwem Ita Etuk, Governor Godswill Akpabio’s current commissioner for local government and chieftaincy expressly said on tape that APC supporters who come out for campaign and vote for the party would be killed and maimed.
“Eye witnesses to the assassination said that the killers invaded the venue of the meeting, which Uwah was attending, bearing Ukoette’s posters and hailing him as their master. They reportedly shouted that the late Uwah was going to pay for daring to oppose their master before setting upon the man and beating him to death.” Okwong explained.
He said that the party has already petitioned the International Criminal Court on the roles played by some PDP chieftains on the incident and called on security agencies to apprehend and bring the murderers to justice.
They however warned that the party would not tolerate any further killing of their supporters and candidates and expressed confidence in the ability of the police and other security agencies in the state to protect its supporters and candidates from any form of intimidation and to their lives and property.
Although Police were yet to arrest the assassins, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong said he has directed the Area Commander of Ikot Ekpene Division, the Division Police Officers in the neighbouring local governments to relocate to Ukanafun to ensure that peace reigns in the area.