Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi Central in the 2023 election, has described the recent attack on the convoy of Governor Yahaya Bello as a smear campaign against the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.
Bello and Ajaka have been making allegations and counter-allegations over the attack that reportedly occurred on Saturday, June 3.
Reacting to the development in a release sent to SaharaReporters, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the development as "inhumane" and "undemocratic".
She urged President Bola Tinubu-led government to look into the crisis to prevent an escalation.
"I vehemently condemn the attack on Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his campaign team allegedly by Gov. Yahaya Bello and his goons.
"The unfortunate incident which took place on Saturday, the 3rd of June 2023 near the Naval base Lokoja was inhuman and undemocratic.
"Sadly, of note is the poorly orchestrated staged ‘self-attack’ on Governor Yahaya Bello by the Commander of the Lugard Naval Command Nicholas Akalezi, aka Charles Akalezi and APC thugs; thereby blaming Muri Ajaka in a bid to rope him criminally in furtherance to be disqualified by INEC in the forthcoming Nov 11th Gubernatorial elections.
"I thereby urge President Tinubu to call for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the incidents and prosecute without favour the culprits who are ceaselessly committed to perpetuating unrest in our dead Kogi state.”
"The mayhem under President Buhari must not continue in the name of politics and party loyalty," she added.