By CHINELO OBOGO
Former acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the state government to arrest him and his supporters on trumped up charges.
In a statement signed by Ahmed Yusuf, the campaign director of Umar Gubernatorial Campaign Organization, he said the alleged plan included the investigation of the former acting governor and some of his principal officers over some spurious allegations to distract them from the election process.
He alleged that agents of the state government also planned to invite law enforcement officers from outside the state to make arrests with a view to frightening them into submission or withdrawing their support for Umar.
The campaign director alleged that the acting Governor, Alhaji Sani Danladi, had early this week summoned a meeting with members of the state House of Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state executive committee members, local government chairmen and some party stakeholders and directed them to return all government anointed candidates during the forthcoming state, national assembly and the governorship primaries.
“This threat has so far failed as the delegates have remained resolute and unperturbed and are resolved to elect leaders of their choice. The members of the party and other electorate in the state are standing by Umar as they trooped out in thousands on Tuesday to welcome him to Jalingo since his ouster by the Supreme Court,” Yusuf said.
The campaign organisation however appealed to its supporters to remain calm so as not to provide the government’s agents the tools to blackmail and arrest them.
“We are also appealing to the law enforcement agencies in the state to remain neutral and to provide all aspirants and their supporters a level playing field to participate in the election process,” he said.

Taraba: Umar alleges plot to arrest him