A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, of the All Progressives Congress Alhaji Lai Mohammed, claims that the residence of the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organization, Shehu Garba, is being stalked by security operatives.
Mohammed in the statement noted that Garba’s residence at the NNPC Quarters, Area 11, Abuja, was surrounded by armed policemen around 3 a.m. on Thursday, making it impossible for him and his family members to even go to the mosque for morning prayer.
Excerpt from the statement reads: ”Going after the Spokesman of our party’s Presidential Campaign Organization is aimed at muffling the organization’s voice and abridging the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the Spokesman himself. This is antithetic to democracy and totally unacceptable.”
APC called on those who sent the armed security personnel to Garba’s residence to immediately order their withdrawal and tell Nigerians what he has done to warrant such harassment.
The party said coming after the siege by armed troops on the residence of the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos and a similar siege on the Imo State Government House in Owerri, it is now clear that the Jonathan Administration has finally launched its much-anticipated clampdown on the opposition ahead of the general elections.
”The PDP and the Jonathan Administration are bent on badgering the opposition through the harassment, intimidation and arrest of its leaders as well as the circulation of unfounded rumours against the party. These actions are all aimed at fomenting a crisis and scuttling the forthcoming elections.
”We are therefore calling on all Nigerians as well as the international community to take note of this growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of the opposition, and the effect such action will have on the conduct of the elections,” it said.
Garba who confirmed the police presence at about 9 a.m today, said the policemen who came in five cars and a van positioned them self directly opposite his apartment.
They have since departed he disclosed.