Nigeria’s main opposition party on Monday called for an investigation after security forces arrested two alleged Boko Haram militants believed to be plotting to attack the party’s presidential candidate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it believes attackers were planning to kill the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in his home, slay innocent citizens and cause chaos.
The arrests Sunday came amid continued court battles over the outcome of Nigeria’s February presidential election. The PDP alleges that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party won through election fraud, which it denies.
The PDP also alleged that the arrests might be connected to the ruling party’s recent warning to the judiciary. The APC last week urged the judiciary to be careful with any ruling on the February elections, saying a wrong decision could unleash anarchy in Nigeria.
The PDP claimed the ruling party was trying to start violence as an excuse to impose emergency rule in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s main opposition party on Monday called for an investigation after security forces arrested two alleged Boko Haram militants believed to be plotting to attack the party’s presidential candidate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it believes attackers were planning to kill the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in his home, slay innocent citizens and cause chaos.
The arrests Sunday came amid continued court battles over the outcome of Nigeria’s February presidential election. The PDP alleges that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party won through election fraud, which it denies.
The PDP also alleged that the arrests might be connected to the ruling party’s recent warning to the judiciary. The APC last week urged the judiciary to be careful with any ruling on the February elections, saying a wrong decision could unleash anarchy in Nigeria.
The PDP claimed the ruling party was trying to start violence as an excuse to impose emergency rule in Nigeria.
The PDP accused the APC of manipulating the election process to retain power and is calling for security reinforcements around Abubakar.
But the ruling party dismissed the claims. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the PDP is making baseless accusations.
“It’s very unfortunate that the Peoples Democratic Party will trivialize something as serious as suspected terror attack to politicize an incident that is still at the early stages of investigation,” Morka said. “It just shows the depth to which the PDP has descended in its utter confusion and loss. I think that’s just the height of irresponsibility.”
Abubakar has not commented on the alleged assassination attempt.
The Presidential Election Petition Court, meanwhile, is expected to rule soon on the PDP’s challenge to the election.
Source: Voice of America