An image of the of PDP Flag

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has defended its recent meeting in Zamfara State, accusing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of attempting to politicise insecurity instead of showing empathy to victims of recent attacks in the state.

The PDP governors convened in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Friday and Saturday, just days after bandit attacks claimed lives in parts of the state. Their gathering sparked criticism from the ADC, which condemned the decision to hold a political meeting in the state amid fresh violence.

In a statement on Sunday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara. He accused the PDP governors of insensitivity, arguing that their presence in ceremonial robes and smiling for cameras “was totally out of place in an environment that still reeks of so much blood and sorrow.”

Abdullahi said, “Instead of rallying around their beleaguered colleague to help stop the orgy of killings, they chose to stage a political rally at the scene of mass murder, even if it meant trampling on the memory of the victims.”

But reacting on Monday, the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, described the ADC’s statement as “irresponsible” and “an attempt to play politics with human lives.”

According to Agbo, the Zamfara meeting was long scheduled and not a spur-of-the-moment event. He stressed that the PDP governors had thoroughly deliberated on national security during the session and issued a communique reflecting their concerns.

“The forum particularly commends initiatives by the government of Zamfara State in significantly curbing insecurity within the state, but condemns the continued monstrous killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Benue States and other parts of the country. We call on the federal government to be more responsive to the lives and properties of the citizenry,” the statement read.

The PDP governors also accused the ADC of lacking empathy, suggesting that rather than issuing press statements, the party could have visited the affected communities.

Agbo added, “Playing politics and trying to gain political capital with human lives isn’t our stock in trade as is characteristic of the ADC. Since their exit, the PDP has become more formidable, more focused, and determined to stay on course.”

He further likened the ADC to a “prodigal son,” saying the PDP would welcome them back only if they returned with genuine remorse.

The Forum maintained that the worsening security situation in the country remains a pressing national concern and would continue to dominate its agenda in the coming months.