Police warn trouble makers, stay away from PDP event in C’River

The Cross River State Police Command has issued a warning to anyone suspected of causing a commotion to stay away from the proposed location of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) press conference in Calabar.

The police issued the warning in the wake of reports that some persons were planning to disrupt an event scheduled for yesterday at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar.

A statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Irene Ugbo, for the state Commissioner of Police stated as follows: “A stakeholders’ meeting of the Cross Rivers State PDP would happen today (yesterday) at a scheduled venue, purely on invitation.

“The purpose of this message is to make it clear that anyone or any organization who is not on the invitation list is not permitted to loiter or assemble around the venue.

“The state police command will deal decisively with anybody who ventures around this venue with intent to cause breach of peace.

“Everyone is warned to keep the peace enjoyed in this state for our common good. “If you see something say something.”

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Political tension has been mounting in the state since the state governor, Ben Ayade, decamped from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last Thursday.

Ayade’s defection was followed on Saturday by the taking over of the PDP state secretariat in the state by the APC, which has further escalated the political tension, especially among members of the rival political parties, in the state.

The PDP has even accused the police of aiding thugs and proxies of the APC to forcefully takeover their secretariat.

But the police denied the allegation, saying they were at the secretariat to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.