The All Progressives Congress (APC) of Imo State has issued a warning following the deaths of 50 of its members in violent political attacks.
They said this while continuing to denounce Monday's attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission's state headquarters (INEC).
Using the attacks on a Commissioner and Prince Iheme as examples, Cajethan Duke, the publicity secretary for the Imo APC, said that the arsonists who targeted INEC had designated their members as targets.
He said, "In a viral video of the incident, the attackers could be seen blaming APC while setting the victim's car on fire. Therefore, it is understandable why the APC is the only political party in Imo to have lost more than 50 officers and injured numerous more due to this sponsored political attack.
The party denounced "the senseless, immoral, and reprehensible attacks on critical government installations and institutions, as well as the murders of party members."
The statement continued, "The recent unprovoked attacks on INEC facilities and APC members have further exposed the true motive and mission of those behind this unforgivable and heinous adventure."
On the other hand, the APC criticised the state PDP chapter for "sympathy for the attackers" and for neglecting to fully commend the police for their valiant acts.
It stated, "It is deplorable that the opposition People's Democratic Party, PDP, has continued to show sympathy and support with the perpetrators in the face of these atrocities. The opposition PDP went to town with a shoddy press release to attack the governor's personality. Still, patriotic Imolites and Nigerians are full of praise for the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and the security services in the state.
The APC added, "Contrary to the position of Imo PDP, every discerning Imo resident is aware that what is happening in the state today is a direct result of the PDP's frustration over the Supreme Court judgement from January 15, 2020. We are aware of this, and it has been established beyond a reasonable doubt that some disgruntled PDP political actors have used the needless, aimless, uncoordinated, and unguided Biafra agitation as cover to plan despicable crime to damage the reputation of the APC-led government in the state.
The APC urged law enforcement to quickly find and prosecute the organisations funding terrorism. "We, therefore, ask all relevant security agencies in the state to make haste in exposing those responsible for the recent uptick in insecurity and banditry in Imo State and for the repeated attacks on members of our party," it read. The fact that only those in our party experience insecurity is inexplicable. We won't succumb to this endless cycle! It's intolerable and unacceptable.
"We had expected Imo PDP, at least for once, to praise the security agencies for their prompt and effective response to the unjustified attack on Imo INEC headquarters, if not Governor Hope Uzodimma," the party continued.