In a statement released by the APC's Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, it was claimed that these thugs were seen moving freely in Kaura Namoda town and Kasuwar Daji village following their deployment on Friday evening. They were reportedly armed and dressed in state Community Policing Group (CPG) uniforms, despite a ban imposed by security agencies in the state. The reported aim of these thugs is to threaten, intimidate, and potentially harm or kill innocent citizens participating in the bye-election.
Gusau stated, "This assertion is corroborated by the presence and movement of these armed individuals in the Kaura Namoda local government area, where the bye-election is set to occur."
He further highlighted concerns raised over a year ago regarding Governor Dauda Lawal and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that they used armed thugs to harass citizens, emphasizing that at one point, individuals were killed in the state capital while these armed groups were part of a motorcade escorting the governor.
Regarding the Kaura Namoda bye-election, Gusau noted that PDP thugs and armed individuals are again moving unchecked, in violation of the expected security protocols for the election.
The APC has formally notified all security agencies in the state about the potential for violence, particularly against their party members.
"We are perplexed by the fact that the Governor, whom we have accused of neglecting the issue of security in the state—especially by failing to support law enforcement—now seems to be utilizing armed thugs against citizens in advance of the election," Gusau concluded, adding that this situation underscores APC's concerns that the state government may be facilitating the use of firearms during the election.