Ahead of Saturday's presidential poll, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had mobilised thugs to cause widespread violence in the state.

As a prelude to this, the APC alleged that the opposition had printed thousands of T-shirts branded with APC logo, and consequently distributed same to the suspected thugs of the opposition PDP across the state.

The state APC Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, who addressed a press conference in Ilorin on the development, urged the people of the state to be vigilant and security conscious before, during and after the general elections.

This is coming on the heels of alleged shooting spree by suspected political thugs after a PDP rally at Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state where dangerous weapons were freely used on APC members in the area.

Balogun Fulani, who noted that the ruling APC had lodged formal complaint to the Police over the ugly incident, called for the arrest of some people believed to have masterminded the violent attack.

He also stated that some APC members in Obbo-Aiyegunle community were attacked while five billboards of the party mounted directly opposite Ekiti Local Government Area of the state were also destroyed by the PDP thugs.

The APC Chairman warned that until the arrest of suspected PDP agents was effected, the determination of the Police to curb political violence in the state would remain mere words and rhetoric.

He said, "events in Kwara State in the past few weeks have shown that the PDP has a grand plot to cause widespread violence, ignite the atmosphere of insecurity and violence in a failed attempt to cause voters apathy during the forthcoming elections.

"It is on record that armed members of the PDP recently attacked the convoy of Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of our presidential candidate. That attack was the height of irresponsibility on the part of the PDP. It should interest the people of Kwara State that till today neither the PDP nor its chairman has deemed it worthwhile to condemn the unfortunate incident.

"The particular refusal of the PDP to offer a simple apology to Mrs Aishat Buhari, the APC and the people of Kwara State on the unfortunate incident is the clearest indication yet in recent times that the PDP is not only a sponsor of violence but also a proud and unrepentant sponsor of violence.

"We have also gathered from informed sources within the PDP that the PDP has printed thousands of APC branded T-shirts. These APC branded T-shirts have been distributed to PDP thugs across the state especially within Ilorin metropolis. The PDP thugs have been mobilised to cause widespread violence including but not limited to destruction of vehicles. The PDP intends to begin this criminal activities with a failed bid to hang it on our party.

"In the light of the above, we call on the Kwara State Police Command to immediately arrest the following people, Mr Shola Bamidele, Mr Ibrahim Joe Benson, Mr Femi Ako, Mr Isaac America and Gbadebo Ayeni, for their roles in the violence and attack of APC members at Osi and Obbo-Aiyegunle on Saturday", Balogun Fulani said.