Police arrest suspects over election violence in A/Ibom - PDP chieftains appeal to Akpabio

Kunle Olayeni, Uyo - 28.01.2008

The police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested several suspects over the violence that marred the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillorship primaries in the state last week.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Zuokumor, who disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo, said some arms were recovered in the process.
He said some suspects were arrested in connection with the burning of the house of a member of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Paul Owoh, in Ini Local Government Area last week.

The police boss said the suspects had already confessed to the crime, but he did not reveal the number of suspects arrested so far.
Zuokumor said policemen had been drafted to various troubled spots in the state to forestall any outbreak of violence.

He assured that the police would provide adequate security during the PDP chairmanship primaries billed for Wednesday. Meanwhile, some stalwarts of the party have urged the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to ensuring a level playing ground for all chairmanship and councillorship aspirants.

The stalwarts, under the aegis of Uruan Political Stakeholders, on Saturday in Uyo rose from a meeting and called on the governor to review the controversy generated by the councillorship primaries in the state and warned against consensus candidacy “being enforced” on the grassroots people by some highly placed persons.