By Ola Taiwo
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has condemned an alleged attack on a female chieftain of the party, Tawakalitu Agaka, in Ilorin at the Kwara Central Senatorial District.
The party which alleged that the attack was perpetrated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state called on the police to investigate the incident and and bring the perpetrators to book.
The APC alleged that the house of the woman was attacked and that she was harrased after she successffuly carried out an empowerment programme in her homestead at the Agaka area of Ilorin
But, the PDP denied the allegation that its members attacked the woman and claimed that what happened was that she was rejected of her empowerment programme by residents in her area who were not convinced of her good intention about the empowerment.
The APC in a statement signed by its chairman at the central senatorial district, Memudu Turawa, said that instead of embarking on such an alleged attack the PDP should rather “convince the people of the state on why Kwara should go back to era of collapsed school infrastructure, dehumanization of women and elderly, unpaid salaries, zero promotion, pervasive fear, and stunted physical and economic growth.”
The APC further said: “The PDP should be civil in its approach to issues. Citizens are at liberty to pursue their political aspirations in an atmosphere that is devoid of violence, harassment, or intimidation.
“The violent, harassment, and intimidation of Alhaja Tawa Agaka is condemnable. That she and many other APC chieftains come from Agaka where the PDP governorship Alhaji Kawu Agaka comes from should not expose them to danger of any kind.
“We call on the police and local traditional authorities to caution everyone who is involved in such uncivilized behaviour. Beyond being a grassroot politician, Alhaja Agaka is a mother, grandmother, wife, and a proud community leader. We will not watch whilst she or anyone is molested by the PDP.
“The party must immediately call its members to order. This is neither 2003, 2007 nor 2011 when dissents were muzzled without appropriate consequences. Anyone who goes over board will be reined in appropriately by the security agencies.
“If the ruling party is allowing free speech and political freedom, no opposition party will be allowed to sabotage Kwara’s quest for increased freedom, peace, and development.
The party, while calling on the security agencies to identify those who harassed the woman said this was the only way to check political excesses and sustain peace and democracy.
“Leaving this uncouth behaviour unattended to could lead to reprisals in Agaka or elsewhere against PDP members. Our party and government do not subscribe to violence of any kind,” the APC warned.
However, the PDP while denying the APC’s allegation said the woman had her empowerment programme rejected by residents who were dissatisfied with what they regarded as a last-minute intervention ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP in a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Olusegun Adewara, alleged that the state govenor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and his APC party had been facing rejection by people of the state ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The truth is that the AbdulRazaq-led APC administration is becoming overwhelmed by the wave of rejection confronting it from one end of Kwara State to the other,” the PDP said.
The party questioned the timing of the empowerment programme, particularly the reported N5,000 assistance, asking why similar interventions were not provided from 2023 until now.
The PDP accused the APC of attempting to exploit the incident politically, saying residents of Agaka were entitled to accept or reject political gestures without being insulted or intimidated.
The party asked that an apology be made by the APC to the people of Agaka and the Mogaji of the community over alleged description of residents in the area as “thugs and hooligans.”
