ALL Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and one of its chieftains, Mr. Koye Shogbola, have cautioned the Peoples' Democratic Congress (PDP) to desist from actions and utterances that could truncate democracy.

APC in Oyo State yesterday alleged incessant illegal arrest and intimidation of its members by security agents on the orders of some influential leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were said to be using federal might to harass innocent citizens.

The APC in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, condemned the frequent invitation and detention of some of its members over unfounded allegations of vandalising President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election campaign billboards in some parts of the state.

It added: "For about a month now, the Caretaker Chairman of Oyo West Local Government Area, Mr. Adesoji Ojoawo, and other members of our party have been regular visitors to the police headquarters in Ibadan over a sponsored allegation of destroying PDP billboards even when they had proved their innocence. The council boss was again invited last Friday on the same issue and he has since been detained at the CID office.

"While it has been established that the billboard, in question, might have been damaged by heavy winds, the same security agents would not hide their bias on the issue of campaign billboards vandalism as they fail to act on formal reports of palpable sponsored damages done to those of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and other candidates of the APC."

PDP dismissed the claim as mere APC propaganda.

Speaking to reporters in Ilorin yesterday, Shogbola questioned why the leaders of PDP who signed a peace pact with the main opposition party and others at federal and state levels "look the other way as thugs alleged to be on their payroll unleash acts of terror on APC leaders and supporters in Kwara State and other parts of the country." Also, according to him, "policemen who are paid to enforce law and order look the other way."

He is Director of Finance and Administration at Mandate 2015, the organization saddled with the responsibility of ensuring APC's victory at the polls in Kwara State.

His words: "In the last few weeks, our convoy has been attacked in different parts of the state, especially in Ilorin, Share and Isapa. The most disturbing aspect was the act of violence perpetuated by thugs believed to acting on the order of the ruling party at Odota, Airport Road, Ilorin last month. For several hours, vehicular movement was disrupted as thugs, allegedly loyal to PDP, beat and molested residents and passersby in the area, while property worth millions of Naira was destroyed, yet the police did not come to the rescue of the citizens."

Shogbola, a former Senior Special Adviser to an erstwhile Governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki, also alleged that billboards and posters of APC are being destroyed.

He equally cited attacks on APC's presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the launch of the party's campaign. Recently in Okrika, also in Rivers State, one policeman was killed and scores of people injured when three explosions and sporadic gunfire abruptly ended a rally of the APC gubernatorial aspirant, Dakuku Peterside."

He also recalled that in January in Rivers State, the APC secretariat was bombed with explosives suspected to be dynamite and later. Unknown gunmen attacked the campaign ground of the party in the town, destroying the platform and other equipment.

Shogbola also noted that in Lagos there were several reports of PDP-instigated violence in many parts of the state, especially in the Ipaja-Ayobo area where thugs unleashed unprecedented violence on APC supporters.

"With the elections just three weeks away, PDP leaders must call their members to order. These acts of violence, murder and destruction of property, if not checked, is capable of truncating our fragile democracy," Shogbola stated.