BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO—The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, has warned the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against violence as the party flags off its campaign rallies this week.

But the PDP in its reaction said rather than portraying the PDP as a violent party, the APC should watch itself and allow peace to reign during the campaign rallies of the PDP.

The APC in a statement by its Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, admonished the PDP to toe the path of peaceful campaign, which he said the APC adopted during its campaigns in Ile-Ife and Ikire.

The party said “Please conduct yourselves and your campaign activities in a civilized fashion, devoid of violence and thuggery in the interest of the peace of our state and our people. We expect a minimum standard of responsible conduct from the PDP and its flag bearer during the campaign rallies of the party across the state.”

APC also advised its supporters to be careful and stay clear of the campaign venues of PDP rallies to avoid being accused of provoking violence at the opponent’s rally, saying “as much as possible our supporters should stay away from the vicinity of PDP rallies until it is all over and safe to move around freely again.”

However, PDP through its state Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, said “we have it on good authority that the APC has concluded arrangements to cause violent clash during the PDP campaign rallies in major parts of the state.”