The lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Smart Adeyemi on Friday raised an alarm over a threat to his life and of his family members.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain disclosed that he had been warned not to contest in the 2023 general election.
Adeyemi, however, did not reveal the identity of the people behind the threat, adding that he had reported the issue to relevant agencies.
He warned that if anything happens to him or any member of his family, the security agencies have the identity of the people trying to cause him harm.
The lawmaker further stated that he is being threatened to allow someone else to contest the poll, to satisfy a rotation arrangement.
Adeyemi claimed that leaders in the senatorial district have directed him to contest in the forthcoming election and ignore the threat.
He assured his supporters that he would be contesting in the 2023 race.
The statement reads in part, “After due deliberate consultations with very senior citizens and my constituents who believe in me, I have been urged and geared to go ahead and contest this election in continued service to my people.
“I am therefore resolute to go ahead, irrespective of the consequences, as a free citizen of Nigeria.
“I hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians, the masses whom I have always spoken for, as well as the international community, to evaluate my antecedents, my representations both now and in the time past.
“The allegations I am making is that certain individuals have been pencilled down as anointed candidates in the upcoming elections and I have absolutely, no problem with that.
”However, this must not be to the exclusion of any other candidate who is desirous of exercising his fundamental human rights.
“Every Nigerian has a right to run, and the voice of the people will and must prevail. I, therefore, see no reason why anybody’s life should be at stake for that reason.
“The extent to the threat to my life is yet to be defined but they are quite potent and palpable, based on their utterances, and I quote if he dares to contest.”
“This had led me with no other options than to make a formal and urgent report to the relevant security agencies and top security officials within and outside the country.
“Any threat to life should not be taken lightly.
“Consequently and on this premise, Nigerians and the international community are by this statement, duly informed that the lives of my immediate family and I, are under severe threat.
“Should any harm or eventuality come to any of us, we know those who are responsible for it and this has been duly registered in the appropriate quarters.”
