3 injured as explosion rocks APC campaign office in A/ Ibom

At least three persons were said to have been seriously injured on Tuesday night following an explosion that occurred at the campaign office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) located along Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 7:30 pm when gunmen arrived the scene in a car and threw explosives before opening fire on unsuspecting persons indentified as members and supporters of the APC.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers carried out the dastardly operation within few seconds and sped off before security operatives at the premises could respond.

Victims of the attack, including a woman have been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Uyo, for treatment.

Unconfirmed sources said that two of the victims were in critical condition while the third victim, whose name was given as Mrs. Uduak Sunday, from Uyo, sustained injury to her right leg.

Reacting to the attack, Spokesperson of the APC Campaign Council in the state, Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement described the attack as “another desperate attempt by the opposition party which started since the commencement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections

“This is another in the series of cowardly attempts at intimidating and cowing our party, the APC and its supporters in the build up to the March 9 governorship election in the state.

“Some months ago, unknown gunmen fired shots into the bedroom of the APC governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere, at his Ewet Housing Estate residence, with his family members narrowly escaping the attack.

“The attack at the campaign office is a confirmation of earlier intelligence received by our party of the likely attempt by the PDP to truncate the March 9 governorship polls in the state.

“Intelligence at our disposal indicates that faced with imminent defeat at the polls, Gov. Emmanuel and the PDP have decided to disrupt the polls in Akwa Ibom state if they are prevented from carrying out another wholesale electoral robbery like the one they perpetrated during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in collusion with the Independent National Electoral Commission”.

Responding to the APC allegations, the PDP said the APC was hunting itself, maintaining that it stands for peace while the APC stands for war.

PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Ini Ememobong , said that the party has been notified of the rumours making the rounds that its members drove by the campaign office of the APC governorship candidate and shot at their supporters.

“Nothing can be farther from the truth. How did the person know that the shooters were PDP members? Assuming there was any shooting?

“The leadership of the APC should hide their faces in shame for such ignoble act of importing thugs from Edo state to cause crisis in Akwa Ibom state, so that elections can be cancelled. Our party is a party of peace and not war. We see God not Warsaw,” the party stated.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Akwa Ibom state Police Command, Mr. Odiko MacDon, could not be reached for an update on the issue as his phone was not connecting.

He also didn’t respond to text messages sent to his phone.