The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sternly condemned the attempted assassination of its Anambra State governorship candidate for the upcoming November 8 election, Jude Ezenwafor.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement on Sunday calling for the arrest of those responsible for the attack and reaffirming the party’s resolve.
Ezenwafor was attacked by unidentified gunmen while returning from an engagement in Abuja.
The party claims that some desperate interests, threatened by Ezenwafor’s rising popularity, are attempting to undermine him.
The statement read in part, “After a critical analysis of the violent incident, the PDP believes that certain interests who, ostensibly being uncomfortable with the growing popularity of the PDP candidate ahead of the November election, are desperate to prevent him from participating in the coming poll.
“Our party has also been made aware of other plots by some anti-democratic elements in Anambra State to commence a series of smear campaigns against our candidate following the failure of the assassination plot.
“This attack on the PDP candidate is another sad commentary on the alarming level of insecurity in the country under the overtly insensitive, corrupt and abysmally rudderless All Progressives Congress administration.
“In any event, our clear message to the assailants and their sponsors is that they have and will continue to fail in their evil machinations as the PDP candidate is divinely destined. Our candidate enjoys the support of the people and will surely emerge victorious in the election.”
The party urged the Inspector General of Police to swiftly arrest the attackers and their sponsors and to strengthen security around its candidate ahead of the election.
The party further stated, “The PDP family urges Chief Ezenwafor not to be dispirited by the attack. The fact remains that Anambra State is home to the PDP, and no amount of attack, smear campaigns or propaganda will sway the resolve of our party, candidate and the people of Anambra State to elect a transparent, humane, people-orientated and result-driven administration on the platform of the PDP.”