Police stop Niger PDP rally give nod to APC

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Niger State police command has refused to grant People Democratic Party (PDP) permission to hold its zonal rally, slated for tomorrow (Saturday) at Paiko, the headquarters of Paikoro local government area of the state, sighting security reason for its decision.
The Party Vice Chairman, Zone B, Mallam Adamu Jibrin gave the disclosure while speaking to newsmen in Minna. He said the police turned down the request by the party because the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had already applied to hold its unity rally the same day in Minna.
The Zonal Vice Chairman explained that his party’s rally was slated for Paiko, while that of APC is slated for Minna, the state capital the police told them (PDP) that it does not have enough personnel to provide security for the two rallies at the same time.
According to him, the police further sighted security reason for its action, expressing fear of the possibility of the two supporters who are expected to come from different parts of the state for the rallies, crossing each other.
“we wrote to the police since on the 5th of this month, asking for their permission to enable our party hold its rally on the 17th of this month at Paiko but we only got their reply just this Monday, telling us that APC had already applied for the same date.
“The police told us that they don’t have enough personnel to provide security for the two rallies at the same day. Thy asked us to put on hold our rally till further notice”.
“The police also said that even if they have enough personnel for the two rallies, there is the possibility of the two supports crossing each which might result to violence” he stated.
All attempt to get the police reaction failed as the police public relation officer, ASP, Mohammed Abubakar refused to pick his phone after several calls by our correspondent.