By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State have accused each other of triggering the shooting incident at Ikwuano last Monday.

The accusations and counter-accusations are coming, despite the peace accord signed by political parties in the state.

While PDP-controlled Abia State government alleged that APGA shot one Frank Dickson, while APGA alleged that PDP members attacked its governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti, at Ikwuano where he had gone on campaign.

At a briefing in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, alleged that APGA supporters shot Dickson and condemned the alleged attack, which he said shattered the legs of the victim.

He claimed that the victim was receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

Agbazuere alleged that Otti and his party had been trying to disrupt the peace of the state through political violence.

Speaking on his hospital bed at the FMC, Umuahia, Dickson claimed that he was shot in one of his legs at Ikwuano, pointing out that a good Samaritans brought him to the hospital.

However, Otti, in a quick reaction, claimed that he was attacked while on a campaign tour of Ikwuano, noting that the attack on him by PDP was a clear proof of the party’s desperation to stop him.

He alleged that the attack on his team at Ikwuano Local Government Area was masterminded by youths and supporters of PDP.

According to him, the attack scuttled his town hall meeting in some of the communities, including Ibere and Oboro.

Otti said he decided to cut short his campaign tour of the local government to avoid bloodbath.

He said he got security report “that some PDP supporters had destroyed canopies and chairs that APGA people in the area had arranged for the town hall meeting and that the APGA House of Assembly candidate for the area informed him that PDP leaders from the state came there and instructed PDP thugs to destroy the canopies.”

According to Otti, the campaign train decided to proceed to Ibere where the first meeting was to hold.

He said: “But on getting to Ndioro Oboro junction, the campaign train met a group of PDP thugs, who blocked the way to Ibere with a vehicle.

Otti said he decided to return to Oboro to address another group of supporters, but was stopped by thugs who started hauling stones at the crowd.

Otti claimed: “PDP thugs started shooting, even the policemen present had to run for their lives and in the process some persons were wounded. Back to Ndioro, in another attempt to go to Ibere, the road had been completely blocked.”

He said he returned to Umuahia and went to report the incident to the police and state Director of Department of State Services, DSS.

Police Public Relations Officer in Abia State, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the command had commenced investigation into the incident based on a complain, but did not disclose the identity of the complainant.