The party nonetheless restated its support for the workers' ultimatum within which the PDP-led government must pay their outstanding June/July salaries. ACN chairman in Kwara, Kayode Olawepo, said in a statement issued Tuesday evening that PDP's allegation is at best laughable, weighed against its (PDP)'s claim that opposition does not exist.

Olawepo said PDP's call on the security agencies to arrest ACNs leadership exposes a ruling party unwilling to tolerate opposition.

The statement read: "At no point did we in any way call for civil disobedience. We do not believe in violence and will never incite people to violence. We are unaware of any clandestine meeting between any member of our party and the unpaid workers.

"The PDP should bring forward its proof of such, if it has any. We back the 14-day ultimatum given to the state government to resolve the issues of non payment of workers' salaries. Of course workers deserve their pay. When did it become illegal for workers to demand for what is their right and when did it become illegal for us to express support for workers demanding for what affects them and their family? Rather than chase shadows and blame its woes on the opposition which it says does not exist, the PDP should tell its government to come clean of how it is handling state finances. They should pay the workers their wages and stop pauperising the people.

"Without furnishing an iota of evidence, PDP is calling on security agencies to apprehend the leadership of ACN- is this not an abuse of power? Are we in a police state whereby the govt can just wish away the opposition?"