Social Democratic Party Denies Role in Disruption of APC Rally in Nasarawa

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State has denied allegations that its governorship candidate, retired Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, and former Governor Tanko Al-Makura were involved in disrupting an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia.

The party accused the Nasarawa State Government of trying to blame opposition figures for the incident that occurred at Lafia Square, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement, Makpa Malla, the SDP’s Deputy Director-General for Media, criticized the state government’s claims as reckless and politically motivated. He specifically took issue with the naming of Al-Makura and Adamu as alleged sponsors of the disruption, calling it a serious accusation without evidence.

The SDP argued that making such allegations publicly raises concerns about defamation and the misuse of government authority. They stressed that if the government has credible evidence against the individuals, it should present it to the proper investigative bodies instead of making public accusations.

The party warned against what it called a trial by press release, emphasizing that political opponents should not be judged in the court of public opinion without proper evidence.

Furthermore, the SDP criticized the state government for not addressing more pressing issues, such as political tensions stemming from the APC’s internal primaries. They expressed willingness to cooperate with an independent investigation into the disruption, provided it is free from political influence.

The SDP urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct its investigation professionally and without pressure, and called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to focus on governance and promoting political tolerance in the state.