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Tag: PDP

  • PDP not committed to peace accord- BMO

    The alleged threat by the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) to pull out of the peace accord they signed with the National Peace Committee has continued to receive reaction with the Buhari Media Organization (BMO) saying the party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar were never committed to the peace deal in the first place.

    The PDP had in a statement on Wednesday threatened to pull out of the peace accord over comments made by governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai that foreign observers who interfere in the electoral process will leave the country in body bags.

    Reacting to the threat, chairman of BMO Niyi Akinsiju, said the former Vice President and his party grudgingly signed the peace pact in the first place.

    He said it took intensive pressure on PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar before he “grudgingly consented to sign the peace accord not more than 48 hours after all willing consenters to the accord had done so.

    Read Also: PDP coming to put smile on faces of Nigerians — Obi

    “In issuing this threat at this time is in furtherance of the PDP’s Dubai agenda to build a case for the disruption of the presidential election or at the minimum, create a perception of ill will around the election with intent at discrediting the election which they know they will lose even before they commenced formal campaign.

    “To advance their evil agenda, in their desperation, they have continued to throw all manners of tantrums, rubbishing institutions of States without any modicum of patriotism and civility.”
    The BMO leader however assured that no matter the threat from the main opposition party, “the presidential election will be held peacefully and creditably well to their shame.”

    National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu Onilu could not be reached for his reaction at the time of this report.

  • Osun Tribunal: How Adeleke promised voters money – Witness

    …APC closes defence after calling 2 witnesses

    ..Tribunal fixes Marc 7 for adoption of written addresses

     

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal heard on Wednesday how the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke allegedly promised to bribe electorate with money while he was campaigning for the rerun election held on September 27, 2018.

    A witness, Kazeem Oladejo told the tribunal that Adeleke visited his community, Idi-Iya in Orolu Local Government, Osun State to campaign, during which he allegedly promised openly, to give people money should the electorate vote for him.

    Oladejo, who was the second witness of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the revelation while being cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led the legal team of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

    Olanipekun asked the witness if Adeleke visited his (witness’) community between September 22, 2018 (when the initial election was held) and September 27, 2018 (when the rerun election was held).

    In response, the witness said: “In between the first election and when the rerun election was conducted, the first petitioner (Adeleke) came to my village to canvass for vote.

    “He came to our town, dancing. He went to our Oba’s palace and went around the town, dancing and campaigning, and saying, I am coming fully now.

    “Many big Nigerians are supporting me, like Femi Otedola and Dangote. Vote for me and I will give you money, gbagam! I will give you dollars, gbagam! I will give you pound sterling, gbagam! I will give you Euro, gbagam!’

    “He (Adeleke) said it categorically that Femi Otedola and Dangote have given him money. He mentioned all kinds of money, like dollars, pound sterling and Euro.

    “He danced around the town and danced out of the town, while he was leaving after the campaign,” the witness said.

    As the witness spoke, member of the tribunal took note, while the audience erupted in laughter, with some repeating the word: Gbagam.

    Adeleke and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Osun State, won by APC’s candidate, Oyetola.

    Earlier, while being led in evidence by APC’s lawyer, Abiodun Layonu (SAN), Oladejo, (who was listed as the respondent’s 13th witness (but second for the third respondent – APC), said he acted as Polling Unit agent for the APC in Unit4 Ward 8 Idi-Iya Village, Orolu LG.

    He confirmed signing a written deposition and asked the tribunal to accept the deposition as his evidence before the tribunal.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the first respondent – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – Adesina Agbede, the witness said he stood by all that are contained in his written deposition, which the tribunal admitted as his oral evidence in the case.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to Adeleke and PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), the witness said he did not include the information, about how Adeleke promised to bribe electorate, in his written deposition.

    When asked by Oke whether the election was monitored by observers, Oladejo said there were many observers. He said both local and foreign observers were at his polling unit.

    The first APC’s witness for the day (listed as R12), was Soji Ayoola, who said he is a teacher and was APC’s agent in Unit 8, Ward 9 in Isundurin, Ejigbo LG.

    Led in evidence by Layonu, the witness adopted his written statement, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Agbede, Ayoola said his polling unit was won by the PDP with 168 votes as against APC’s 86 votes.

    He said the election was held in accordance with the required standard.

    He said he was accredited before being allowed to vote.

    He said he voted once, and that, at the close of ballot, the results were announced to the hearing of all.

    The witness said: “Before the election, all the materials were shown to us and the ballot papers were counted at the end of the election.”

    The witness said all party agents in his polling unit signed the result sheet, following which a pink copy of the result sheets was handed to each of the agents.

    Under cross-examination by Olanipekun, the witness confirmed that the PDP won in the unit where he served as agent.

    Ayoola said the votes were already sorted out, counted and announced before the information was entered into the Form EC8A (the result sheet from his polling unit).

    The witness, who read from the Form EC8A, noted that the total number of issued ballot papers for his polling unit were 714 while the total number of used and unused ballot papers stood 711, which was less than the number issued.

    Read Also: ‘Exam malpractices’: Prosecution raises charges against Adeleke, others

    He said a total number of unused ballot papers were 361 while 350 was the total number of used ballot papers.

    The witness said while total number of used and unused ballot papers in his polling unit amounted to 711 the result sheet contained 714 as the total number of allocated ballot papers.

    The witness said 48 political parties participated in the election and that agents of the parties signed the result sheets after the election.

    He said the result sheets, which all the agents signed, had carbon copies, which were attached to them.

    At that point, Olanipekun asked the witness to demonstrate how he signed the result sheets. The witness was provided with a copy of the result sheet and a carbon sheet, on which he signed three times.

    The specimen of the witness’ signature was later tendered by Olanipekun, which the tribunal, in the absence of objection from the other parties, admitted in evidence and marked as: Exhibit R169A.

    At the conclusion of Oladejo’s testimony, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), who led the APC’s legal team, told the tribunal that the third respondent has decided to close its case after calling its second witness.

    Following agreement by parties, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo directed the respondents (INEC, Oyetola and APC) to file their written addresses within 10 days.

    He asked the petitioners to file their written addresses within seven days after the respondents have filed and served them, following which the respondents will, again have five days, within which to file their written reply on point of law.

    The tribunal Chairman adjourned to March 7 this year, for parties to adopt their final written addresses.
     

     

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday that he cannot blackmail Nigerians.

    It insisted that Nigerians will defeat him in the February 16 presidential election.

    The PDP lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law-abiding citizens.

    In a statement by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject a crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    The Federal Government has repeatedly accused the opposition of plotting to discredit the polls.

    At a news conference on Monday, Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed alleged that the opposition party has perfected a plan to attack the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police.

    He also accused the PDP of dragging the international community into what “is purely internal matter.”

    In yesterday’s statement, Ologbondiyan drew the attention of the international community to what he described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as electoral officials and the opening of borders to ‘mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The statement reads: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonise and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “The PDP calls on the international community to note that the consequences of such resistance in a country of over 200 million people, who have made up their minds for a new leadership, is capable of triggering huge humanitarian crisis not only in Nigeria but also in the West African sub-region.”

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari he cannot blackmail Nigerians over his impending defeat in the February 16 presidential election.

    The main opposition party lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law -abiding Nigerians.

    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    This plot, the PDP alleged, is because the APC have realised that there is no way Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party also drew the attention of the international community to what it described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    It cited the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) collation centre.

    Read Also: PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of borders to “mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The party said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.”

  • No plans to step down for Buhari, Atiku – Olawepo-Hashim

     

    The Presidential candidate of People’s Trust (PT), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared he has no plans to step down for either President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    Olawepo-Hashim expressed confidence the two candidates are beatable with their parties’ woeful performances since 1999.

    He lamented 70 percent of voters are undecided on their choice less than 11 days to the presidential poll.

    He called on Nigerians to support his candidacy for rapid economic development that will lift masses out of abject poverty.

    According to a statement through his media team by Hassan Ibrahim, the Presidential hopeful who spoke during campaign in Akure, the Ondo state capital advised the electorates to reject the two political parties that had failed them in the last twenty years.

    Olawepo-Hashim, who was accompanied by his Campaign Director-General and former transport minister, Mr Habu Fari, said the country was too endowed with natural resources for the citizenry to be wallowing in poverty.

    He vowed to introduce policies that would end insecurity and economic hardship if elected the president of the nation on the sixteenth of this month.

    He advised eligible voters to secure their future by voting for the party in the 2019 elections.

    Olawepo-Hashim assured Nigerians, especially youths and graduates he would create jobs and make the environment conducive for businesses to flourish.

    The presidential candidate of PT said his party was fine-tuning its strategy in all states of the federation on how to wrestle power from the ruling APC, adding that PT had the highest number of representation in constituency nominations.

    READ ALSO: Olawepo-Hashim challenges APC, PDP to debate

    According to him: “Some few days to election more than 70 percent of the electorates are still wondering who they are going to vote for.

    “They have examined the candidates they are going to vote for and what these candidates promised to offer and among all the alternative parties, the PT is the biggest.

    “But I can tell you that this election is still very open even though its ten days to the election.

    “This is one of the reasons I said if elected we will form a government of National unity which will include the good people in the APC and PDP.”

    Denying he was planning to step down, Olawepo-Hashim said: “Nigeria is a very interesting country, and I don’t know any country where other candidates are pressured to step down.

    “I think it is a coinage here because in a multi- party democracy, nobody steps down, you win some seats and on the basis of this you can form coalition based on programme after the election.

    “The presidential election is not about party but about candidates and the future of the country and the two parties have failed in that regard. But we give hope that if we come in, Nigeria will be better”.

    Fari expressed delight the people of Ondo state trooped out to receive Olawepo-Hashim, indicating that the people are ready to elect the third force which the PT candidate represented.

  • Explain how you got to the US, APC challenges Atiku

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar to come clean and explain to Nigerians circumstances surrounding his recent trip to the United States of American.

    Media reports quoting Reuters News agency have it the former Vice President paid heavy bribe to secure a temporary waiver of his alleged travel ban as a result of alleged corruption charges.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, APC also accused the PDP and its presidential candidate of elevating falsehood and crying wolf in an attempt to discredit the forth coming general election even before it is conducted.

    The APC said: “Again, in the wake of the recent Reuters report that Atiku visited the US two weeks ago thanks to heavily paid lobbyists who aided the temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals and corruption indictments, we urge Atiku to come clean to Nigerians on his problems. This is the least he owes an electorate he wishes to lead.”

    “As the 2019 general elections fast approaches, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has watched with consternation how the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the last couple of weeks has elevated falsehood and crying wolf into an ignoble art.

    “Nigerians have also watched in disbelief how the PDP without proof has consistently and vehemently pilloried state institutions performing various roles in the coming general elections.

    “From security agencies to our election management body, the PDP has spared none its barefaced lies.

    “On a daily basis, the PDP has invented one lie after the other to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

    Read Also: APC, PDP step up attacks

    “PDP’s ignoble actions are unhealthy for our electoral processes and a threat to our maturing democracy.

    “The PDP’s game plan is simple: Discredit the entire process before, during and after the elections in order to make the final outcome a “nullity” in its own jaundiced eyes.

    “The PDP must understand that all registered political parties are equal stakeholders in the coming elections; hence the PDP’s tired narrative that the entire election process is skewed against it should be seen for what it is – PDP’s admittance of defeat.

    “The era of sham elections is behind us. The records of credible elections conducted since the APC took over the country’s governance are public knowledge compared to selections, impositions and fraudulent elections under the PDP.

    “We will continue in our progressive tradition of ensuring that elections are free, peaceful credible and every vote counts — The wishes of the electorate must prevail in all elections.

    “Against this backdrop, we urge INEC and other state institutions responsible for different election duties to remain firm and focused in the discharge of their legitimate roles. They must not be stampeded into taking actions that run contrary to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “Our free advice to the PDP is that it concentrates its energy to resuscitate its floundering campaign, which has seen majority of its governors tacitly and openly avoid supporting the presidential bid of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

  • Atiku cautions security agencies on polls

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the nation’s security agencies against interference with the electoral process in the upcoming general elections.

    According to Atiku, the electoral process is outside the constitutional mandate of the security agencies, adding that their duty is to ensure the safety of voters in a seamless process.

    Speaking at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Jalingo, Taraba State on Tuesday, the opposition presidential candidate also warned that any government that involves the military and paramilitary agencies in electoral matters did not mean well for the personnel.

    Atiku harped on the need for security personnel to remain neutral in the electoral process, saying such role is clearly outside their constitutional responsibilities.

    He said, “Our security services, you have no business to interfere with our political process, that is not your work. Your work is to make sure that there is peace, law and order. It is not your business to interfere in our political process; this is not your constitutional responsibility at all.

    “Your constitutional responsibility is to make sure that we are all safe. Any government that draws the security agencies, the Police, the Army, the Civil Defence, that government is doing more harm to your career, is doing more harm to your patriotism and more harm to yourselves.

    “Don’t accept that, don’t get involved, allow us to choose the leaders we want to choose and to elect the people we want to elect. It is not your business whom we elect at all. So I want to caution the security services not to get involved because there are many of us who were also security officers, so don’t come and tell us bullshit”.

    Atiku assured the Taraba people that he will tackle insecurity, which has become a major challenge in the entire Northeast zone.

    Read Also: Endorsement of Atiku, a fraud, says APC

    He also promised to complete the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power and to create the enabling environment for job creation.

    Continuing, Atiku said, “I want to promise you that the much awaited Mambilla Hydro Electric Power, we will complete it so that you will not have problem of power whatsoever.

    “I also want to promise you, that your federal roads will be taken care of. Taraba is one of the most endowed states in this country. We are going to exploit the natural resources which are in abundance in Taraba so that you can have prosperity, so that we can bring employment, so that we can create jobs for our teaming men and women”.

    Apparently referring to his presidential aspiration, Atiku told the crowd of supporters that the Northeast zone is closest to the Presidency now than ever before and charged them not to allow the opportunity to slip away.

    “And this is the first time since 1999, when you are going to have a President from this state, you are going to have a President from this zone. So do you want to take it to another state, to another zone. No! God bless you”.

    The PDP presidential candidate urged the people to vote and ensure their votes are protected and counted, even as he assured that their loyalty to PDP will never go unrewarded.

    Also speaking at the rally, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus accused President Muhammadu Buhari of setting the military against geopolitical zones perceived to be against his re-election bid. He reminded the security agencies of their constitutional responsibility to defend the entire country.

    Secondus said, “We have issue of Boko Haram in Borno. They should tackle that issue. Buhari, don’t use the military to terrorise regions that you don’t like.

    “Enough is enough. The Nigerian military is to defend our territory’s integrity. We shouted aloud that foreigners were entering into our country. They have no response to it because we have evidence.

    “We will continue to hammer that the election must be free and fair. We will continue to address these issues until that day. We believe that when you conduct free and fair election and we elect a credible candidate, that is the only way to bring peace in this country.

    “We believe that anyone that wins from a free and fair process, that person will be the choice of Nigeria. But if you manipulate, if you rig this election, the PDP and others will not accept it. INEC, be warned”

    The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku who hosted the rally said that Atiku has the solution to the problem of insecurity and unemployment that have ravaged the Northeast and assured that the state would be delivered to PDP in all the elections.

  • Atiku to military: Don’t dabble into election

    Presidential flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Atiku on Tuesday cautioned the military against dabbling into the general election, slated February 16 and March 2.

    Atiku gave the warning in Jalingo -the Taraba State capital during the PDP presidential and governorship rally in the northeastern state.

    “The military signed to defend and protect the country, not to defend an individual, as no person is a god.

    “Their (military’s) quick response should be to tackle Boko Haram in Borno and the entire northern region where they are terrorising Nigerians.

    “Muhammadu Buhari, please don’t use the military to terrorise the states you don’t like. The military are to protect the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

    Atiku also told the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies to be neutral during the polls.

    He said: “The police and the SSS have been reformed, so we believe they will be neutral during the general election; they will not side any individual.

    Read Also: Middle Belt Forum denies endorsing Atiku

    “The job of the security is to protect us and ensure there is law and order in the land. They are not to interfere in electoral matters; so, they shouldn’t tell us bull shit.”

    Atiku said his rally in Taraba State was just “homecoming,” adding it was the first time the people of the northeastern region would be having a presidential candidate. “Will you go and vote someone from another region?” he asked.

    Atiku said the major problem of Taraba and the northeastern states was insecurity. “I will provide security,” he pledged.

    He also promised to complete the hydroelectric power project on the Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna local government area of Taraba state.

    “Everything about the Mambilla hydropower project, so far, is a scam. I will reconstruct it and every Nigerian will benefit from it, if you elect me as Nigeria’s president,” Atiku said, adding: “all the federal roads shall be taken care of; the natural resources in the country shall be tapped for job creation.”

    The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election, without taking sides.

    “With the crowd I have seen here, Taraba State is 100 percent PDP. All the people watching this rally on the television, Instagram, Twitter, Google and WhatsApp will agree that Taraba is PDP.

    “INEC should be very careful in their responses. This election cannot be rigged. If you rig it, you (INEC) will invite crisis, and we don’t want crisis.

    “If INEC can conduct free and fair polls, the people will accept whoever emerges, and the country will be peaceful, and that is what we want,” Secondus said.

    Governor Darius Ishaku, who is the PDP candidate in Taraba, assured Atiku of victory, saying: “Taraba is for Atiku.”

    “I have toured the nook and cranny of Taraba for my reelection campaign. And everywhere I went to campaign, the people all know Atiku. This is because he had traversed the State during the Gongola days.

    Atiku will give the people jobs, tackle poverty and revitalise Nigeria’s economy. The APC has failed Nigerians and Atiku is the answer. Atiku, carry go,” Ishaku said.

  • Tambuwal, Wamakko take campaigns to home fronts

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his predecessor,.Senator Aliyu Wamakko this afternoon took their campaigns to their home fronts in Tambuwal and Wamakko local governments respectively.

    The duo will be expected to woo support of their assumed strong holds even as they are said to have challenges to overcome.

    Although, on lookers have pitched Governor Tambuwal of not been on the same page with the political magnates in Tambuwal town who overwhelmingly aligned with opposition PDP for obvious misgivings by the seating governor.

    Prominent are a former Commissioner,  Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal and the APC Southern  senatorial District candidate, Abubajar Shehu Tambuwal. The duos are key political and opinion leaders in Tambuwal own.

    On the other hand, Wamakko’s anticipated challenge in his town seems to be mild as he had been in touch with his people.

    However, only time will tell as the duo push for more support to deliver their respective party across all levels in the state.

     

  • APC, PDP step up attacks

    •Govt: opposition raises 10-man team in bid to discredit polls

    •PDP accuses ruling party, INEC of plotting to rig elections

    It was a day of allegations yesterday, with  the Federal Government accusing the opposition of planning to discredit the general elections.

    The opposition parties have targeted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police for attack to prejudge the polls, which will begin in 11 days, the government said.

    The government said the opposition, led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had raised a 10-man propaganda delegation to visit  some Western capitals, including London, Brussels and Washington, DC.

    The PDP launched its allegations, claiming that the APC government and the INEC planned to rig the elections.

    The mandate of the opposition team, said the government, is to push the “concocted” line that the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration planned to rig the polls.

    It alleged that the opposition had become desperate to seek victory by subterfuge. Besides, the government accused a presidential candidate of having suspicious meetings with some envoys.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed revealed “the latest intelligence” at the disposal of the government at a briefing attended by many local and international media.

    Mohammed said the opposition was doing everything possible, including instigating widespread violence as well as relentless attacks on key institutions, to discredit the forthcoming elections.

    He said the opposition was already predicting carnage in the event of the President’s victory.

    His words: “With just 12 days to the 2019 election, we have called this press conference to alert Nigerians to the evil machinations of the opposition, which is not campaigning to win the election – because they know they can’t win a free, fair and peaceful election – but are busy planning how to scuttle or discredit it

    “Recall that on Monday, January 21, 2019, we alerted the nation, also via a press conference, to the plot by some opposition elements to scuttle the 2019 general elections by instigating widespread violence across the country. Of course, we didn’t just make this up. It was based on credible intelligence.

    “We revealed that the plan to scuttle the polls is part of moves to push the nation into a constitutional crisis, with the plotters hoping they can leverage on that to push for an interim government.  When we raised the alarm, the opposition dismissed it. Of course, they were shocked to have been found out, so we understand their panic reaction.

    “To underscore the seriousness of our alert, a week after our press conference, the National Security Adviser (NSA) met with state governors to also inform them of this same plan to scuttle the polls via widespread violence. As I said at my last press conference, the alarm we raised is based on credible intelligence.

    “Today, still based on credible intelligence, we can reveal that the opposition is moving a step further. They are working hard to discredit the forthcoming election before, during and after the polls.

    “Specifically, they are sending a delegation to some Western capitals, including London, Brussels and Washington, DC, to push the concocted line that the Buhari administration has perfected the plan to rig the polls. They are therefore pushing for a rejection of the results if the President wins re-election. They are also predicting carnage in the event of the President’s victory.”

    Responding to a question, Mohammed said: “There is nowhere there is any insinuation that the Federal Government has lost confidence in the international community. I think, less we are misunderstood, we never say the opposition is hobnobbing with the international community.

    “The opposition parties have decided to, instead of facing their campaigns, resort to international blackmail. We have seen a particular presidential candidate having some suspicious meetings with some envoys.

    “When we have credible intelligence that the opposition is going to carry out some sinister actions, the best and most effective way is to go public.”

    Asked which of the 73 political parties contesting the presidential race is behind this “plot”, the minister said: “There is PDP, CUPP and their allies.”

    Mohammed alleged that the opposition had been using a “nebulous” group, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), to push its agenda.

    He described CUPP as nothing more than a reincarnated Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), which was employed to scuttle Nigeria’s widely-acclaimed freest presidential election in 1993.

    Said Mohammed: “Already, they have started flying the rigging kite domestically. They have been engaging in incendiary rhetoric and in making outlandish claims, using several fronts, including the nebulous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) which, by the way, is nothing more than a reincarnated Association for Better Nigeria (ABN). Of course, you all know the role that the ABN played in the failed 1993 political transition process.

    “They have targeted, for attack, the two key institutions that are most critical to the success of the election: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police. They have used every malleable and malicious personality to make wild allegations against INEC.

    “Their strategy is simple: discredit the election even before it is held, and continue during and after the polls with a view to convincing the West – which they believe they have won to their side, using lobbyist-propelled propaganda – that the election is not credible.”

    Mohammed attributed the “desperation” of the opposition to the emerging electoral reality that they might lose the presidential poll.

    He added: “Some may ask: why would the opposition go to this length? The answer is simple: They know, and are convinced, that they cannot win free, fair, credible and peaceful polls. The handwriting is on the wall for all discerning people to see.

    “While President Buhari has received warm and genuine reception and adulation from huge crowds everywhere he has gone to campaign, their candidate has been exposed to apathetic and thinning crowds! Their numbers just don’t add up!”

    But he restated the commitment of the President to a free and fair poll.

    “On our part, we as an Administration, we are undaunted by their antics, even though we believe it is necessary to expose their evil plans – as we have been doing – to the world. President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly stated his commitment to ensuring a free, fair and violence-free election.

    “He has no doubt – based on testimonies of change from Nigerians – that the achievements of his Administration, in the three cardinal areas of fighting corruption, revamping the economy and fighting insecurity, will speak for him at the polls. He did not rig his way into office and has no need to rig now that he is in office.

    The Minister urged Nigerians and the international community to beware of the antics of the opposition.

    “We are, therefore, compelled to alert Nigerians and the global community to the following:

    “The desperate opposition is doing everything possible, including instigating widespread violence as well as relentless attacks on key institutions, to discredit the forthcoming election. They know they will lose the election, but they want victory by subterfuge.

    “To further their plan, the opposition is dispatching a 10-member delegation to some Western capitals, including London, Brussels and Washington, DC, to sell the idea that the Buhari Administration has perfected the plan to rig the election. They have no empirical basis for the idea they are pushing, beyond relying on exploiting the nation’s ‘fault lines’ of religion, ethnicity and regionalism.

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    “The opposition is approaching the election with an incredible level of desperation. In this regard, they have activated their own version of the infamous Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), under the guise of CUPP, to engage in unrestrained rabble-rousing and frivolous court cases. Of course, the activities of CUPP in recent times are there for all to see, even though the coalition seems to be a very poor imitation of the original ABN.

    “The Buhari Administration is committed to free, fair, credible and peaceful polls. We are glad that local and international observers are already fully mobilized to monitor the election.

    “We call on all Nigerians to be vigilant as we begin the final countdown to the election. Eternal vigilance, as the saying goes, is the price of liberty. We must not allow desperate politicians to crash our democracy on the altar of their personal – and sometimes inordinate – ambition!”

    In a swift reaction, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said: “Each time the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, comes out to make allegations, he does so in a composite way that leaves no one in doubt about the plan they have already made.

    “We can demonstrate this with his recent alarm, wherein he claimed that members of the opposition were bringing in people from Niger Republic to cause mayhem in the country.

    “And behold, who brought in people from Niger Republic for election campaign in Kano? It’s President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.

    “As far as the PDP is concerned, all we are asking for is a free, fair, credible, clean, clear and transparent election that will be acceptable to majority of Nigerians. That’s all we seek and that’s all we ask for.

    “If Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his co-travelers in the APC and the Buhari Presidency have other plans, the PDP is unaware. . . like President Buhari.”