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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Abia PDP organising secretary resigns

    One of the State Executive members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), St. Moses Ogbonna on Tuesday resigned his position as the Organizing Secretary of the party in the state.

    Ogbonna cited strained relationships between him and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as well as the State chairman of the party, Sir Johnson Onuigbo as part of the reason that informed his decision to quit the party.

    Ogbonna, who stated this in a letter signed by him, alleged that he had been excluded from all activities of the party ranging from the 2016 council polls to the party primaries.

    He further noted that his life has been threatened as a result of his outspokenness against what he described as impunity and imposition in the party.

    “My decision is reached upon my painstaking review of the relationship between the governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and the state chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo which over the period have by several conducts consistently exhibited loss of confidence and trust culminating into deliberate usurpation of my duties with impunity. This brazen act of impunity has led to the total neglect of the SWC and state exco of the party.

    “The party is now being run as one man show and every important decision including financial matters and ratification of the results of the primaries was done in a hotel without the approval of the SWC. I, as the Organizing secretary have been excluded from all activities of the party. Every message to the national headquarters that needed to emanate from my office was done by the state chairman,” the letter read in part.

    Read Also: PDP urges people to vote

    Ogbonna also alleged that the Abia PDP secretariat is deserted as exco members and workers of the party have been abandoned to suffer while being owed for 6 months.

    The Nation gathered that Ogbonna was among the nineteen Executive members of the party who had on November 27, 2018 in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting to access the state of affairs in the party in the state, resolved among other things to pass a vote of no confidence on the State chairman of the party. This is even as they had setup a seven-man disciplinary committee to investigate alleged illegalities and maladministration of Ounigbo.

    It was learnt that the impeachment of the State Chairman was however jettisoned by the members of the party’s State Executive through the intervention of Governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and other stakeholders of the party within 48hrs the members of the executive had directed that State Vice Chairman, Hon. P. C Onyegbu to act as the substantive chairman of the party in the state.

    A source in the party who would not want its name in print expressed worries over development of events in the party in recent times and called on the Governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and other stakeholders to come to a roundtable to address some of the issues that may tear the party apart which the source said could affect the chances of the party winning the February 23rd and March 9th elections in the state.

    Attempts to reach the Abia State chairman, PDP, Sir Johnson Onuigbo failed as their mobile lines were unreachable.

    But a source close to the Onuigbo disclosed that the chairman and the state publicity secretary of the party in the state, Chief Don Ubani were in Abuja for a crucial meeting of the party’s stakeholders holding Tuesday.

  • PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to trigger widespread political crises, aimed at derailing the democratic process and plunging the nation into anarchy.

    It faulted the President’s directive to the security agencies to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers and others that may act in ways that could threaten the electoral process.

    In a statement yesterday by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP viewed the President’s directive as “threat to the lives of Nigerians”.

    The President had, during the APC caucus meeting held in Abuja yesterday, said anyone caught snatching ballot boxes should consider the offence the very last they would ever commit.

    But the PDP said President Buhari was calling for jungle justice and attempting to divert public attention from details of APC’s caucus meeting where the President issued the warning.

    The PDP statement reads: “We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not a camouflage for the fake soldiers mobilised by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the Election Day. It is indeed a licence to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilised nation.

    “The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realised that there was a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

    “President Buhari must, however, bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

    “We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election.”

    The party also claimed that intelligence available to it showed that the Buhari Presidency had directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    According to the PDP, the alleged deployment was for INEC to deploy “compromised” officials to manipulate the electoral process in the President’s favour “as they did with the police shortly before February 16”.

    The PDP said “It’s also aware of the pressure allegedly being mounted by the Buhari Presidency on INEC to cancel elections in some states and make others inconclusive so as to achieve the President’s objectives of a staggered election not minding the crisis such will trigger across the federation”.

    “We want Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari personally responsible for any electoral crisis, otherwise he will as usual, claim that he was not aware of the plots and transfer the blame to Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi.

    “It is already known that President Buhari has been unrelenting in his attempts to subdue our democracy by trying to subjugate the legislature, emasculate the judiciary and seize control of the electoral umpire.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP wants to assure President Buhari that our nation is bigger than him and that Nigerians will never allow him and the APC to rig this election.

    “Nigerians have reached an irreversible democratic consensus to vote Buhari out and elect the people’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is ready to rescue our nation from the hardship, anguish, agony and bloodletting which the Buhari administration has plunged us,” the statement added.

  • Reactions trail Buhari’s comment on ballot box snatchers

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s recommendation of maximum punishment for ballot box snatchers drew reactions from various quarters yesterday.

    The President’s comment triggered arguments among senior lawyers with some pitching tent with the President.

    They said that only those with the intent to snatch ballot boxes will be afraid of such remarks. Others felt that such directive, if carried out, would amount to extra-judicial killing.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara faulted the directive.

    Dogara told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the President’s directive amounted to a call for extrajudicial killings of would be electoral offenders.

    He said: “These statements clearly indicate that our democracy has become the victim of a full-blown dictatorship, when one considers that a democratically elected President would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land, which by his oath of office, he is to defend and protect.

    “In view of this statement by the President, it is obvious that the military has been given a central role and coopted into the conduct of the election despite the fact that they have no constitutional role in our electoral process”.

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana said Buhari must have made the statement to scare riggers.

    He said: “I want to believe that the President made the statement with a view to instil fear in the polluted minds of intended ballot snatchers. Without any attempt to support electoral offenders the act of snatching ballot boxes does not attract the death penalty. In fact it is a misdemeanor whose penalty is 24 months imprisonment by virtue of section 129(4) of the Electoral Act. “I plead with security officers not to risk their own lives by engaging in extrajudicial killing of ballot snatchers and other electoral offenders. It may interest President Buhari to know that due to the culture of impunity in the land the hundreds of electoral offenders including sponsors and perpetrators of politically motivated killings arrested by the police in the last six months have been let off the hook due to pressure from highly connected criminally minded members of the political class. I am tempted to call on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to advise the President to withdraw the illegal directive as soon as possible because similar illegal orders of two former Presidents of had led to the brutal massacre of unarmed people in Odi, Bayelsa State (1999), Zaki Biam, Benue State (2001) and Gbaramotu, Delta State (2009),” he said.

    Lawyer and human rights activist Monday Ubani hailed the Buhari’s directives.

    He said the only way to ensure that the election would be free and fair is to have the ballot boxes and voters protected by security agents at the polling units.

    Ubani cited the case of Abia State where he alleged that election results had been prepared for election that was postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  “I travelled to my village in Abia last Saturday for the election. The party that wrote the election results has been threatening people not to come out this Saturday for voting if they love themselves. They have hired thugs from neighbouring states to disrupt the rescheduled election on Saturday. This is why I’m supporting the President’s directives that those involved in rigging should be severely dealt with. The Federal Government should massively deplored military and police to polling units”.

    The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, said the directive was timely.

    He said: “Election rigging is worse than robbery; it has become a way of life because since 1999 no one has been brought to book”.

    Igbokwe said with this directive President Buhari would restore sanity to our electoral process. This is the kind of change I voted for.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman in Lagos State, Taofik Gani, described the president’s directive as a panicky measure. He said the directive is capable of sending wrong signal to innocent voters who may decide not to come out to exercise their civic duties out of fear.

    To him, armed security men should keep away from the polling units. Anyone found rigging should be arrested and prosecuted.

    Southwest APC chieftain Ayo Afolabi said snatching the ballot is like snatching peoples’ hope and aspiration.

    “For someone to go out of his way, to start snatching ballot boxes, amount to snatching the future of Nigerians. So, if the man snatching ballot boxes loses his life in the process, to hell with him,” he said.

    Lagos State APC chieftain Lanre Razak said whoever “tries to disturb the process of election is trying to plunge the country into chaos and probably war”.

    He said: “The President is not saying they should shoot them, but the punishment for people who are trying to plunge the only country we have into anarchy is severe punishment. The President is saying that the existing laws provide for punishment.”

    Seyi Sowemimo SAN, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and lawyer-activist Jiti Ogunye said it was wrong to see the president’s comments as a call to security forces to kill or harm innocent people.

    But Sebastine Hon (SAN), Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) said the statement could be interpreted as a call to jungle justice and murder.

    Sowemimo reasoned that the President was merely sending a strong message that electoral offences would no more be tolerated.

    He said: “We should be charitable enough not to ascribe to the President that he wants to encourage security agents to kill people. I think with the postponement and the reasons given for the postponement, you can tell that it’s been a disappointment for everybody, including the president himself and maybe more so for him, because it may have appeared as if it is a failure on his administration.

    “So, I think the man was trying to send a very strong message out there, that all these things that have militated against elections going on, like buildings being burnt down and all that.

    “I think it’s just right that he should let people know that we really can’t afford to have any disruption in our plans anymore. So, I don’t think he’s asking them to murder people.”

    He added: “The duty of the president is to enforce all laws in our country. That’s why they are the executive arm of the government. They are to enforce laws and to stop criminality in the land. So, he’s merely saying the obvious, that ‘I will enforce the law, I will punish the offender according to law’. So, what is unconstitutional about that?

    “There are laws that prohibit crime, electoral offences and so on. So, if you contravene them, he is saying he will enforce the law. He is merely saying the obvious. What is his duty if he cannot say that? Then who else will do it? That’s executive function.”

    Ogunye said there is a constitutional basis for killing an armed ballot box snatcher.

    He said: “When a ballot box snatcher, armed with offensive weapons, including a gun, is shot dead by security agents, he has been brought to justice in accordance with the law.”

    He referred to Section 33(2)(a-c) of the 1999 Constitution.

    It says: “A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably necessary –

    “(a) for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property;

    “(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or

    “(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.”

    But Hon disagreed. He said the president’s order was “ultra vires his powers and is clearly unconstitutional.

    “Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution has guaranteed right to life as a fundamental right, to be infringed upon only in execution a death sentence imposed by a court of law; or in suppression of a riot/insurrection; or when one is exercising his right of self defence. Snatching of ballot boxes or commission of electoral offences is not one of the exceptions or limitations of right to life.

    “Mr. President’s order is, without any shred of doubt, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void. Nobody should obey such an order. The international community, perhaps in hindsight, preempted the President, when it issued stern warnings against instigating, ordering or participating in violence during the election period.

    “Let me quickly add that pronouncements like this further alienate Nigeria from the enlightened global community and regress us to the backward abyss of time. I advise the President to withdraw that directive without delay.”

    For Ogwemoh, the comment was “sad”, coming from “the respected office of a President in a democracy.

    “The President cannot be heard to be calling for violence or recourse to self-help in a country regulated by laws. Perhaps if the President had signed the new Electoral Act into law it would have taken care of the seeming frustration inherent in the statement. The point again must be made that no political office, no matter how high it may be, is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

    Owonikoko viewed the president’s language as being “not too suited for the occasion and time.”

    He said: “As a charge for a battle ready fully mobilized army to be unleashed on an enemy of the state , the President would have scored a (five)-star.  To threaten voters who prove unruly or fall foul of electoral laws with ruthless treatment; or to be prepared to pay with their lives is a cynical euphemism for saying that they will be risking state sanctioned-extra-judicial death.”

     

  • Revealed: PDP’s $3m per state cash-for-vote plot

    •Ex-INEC chief named in deal    •Peace Panel member romances opposition    •Party denies claim

    Security agencies have uncovered how the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has allocated about $3million (N1.8billion) to each state branch of the party, allegedly for inducement of voters.

    The cash was remitted before last Saturday’s postponement elections, but most state chapters were  finding it difficult to change the cash to naira because of the surveillance on Bureau De Change operators by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Also, the agencies have intercepted alleged  compromise of some officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), policemen and other security agents in some states.

    The intelligence report, including the alleged implication of a former top official of INEC, may be presented to the chairman of the electoral commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, by the security agencies.

    A former Resident Electoral Commissioner is believed to be neck-deep in the massive cash-for-votes plot.

    Besides, a member of the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has been fingered in “political romance” with the opposition, contrary to the mandate of the group.

    The popular thinking is that the PDP has hidden under the guise of “logistics” to allocate about $3million (N1.8billion) per state, which security agencies discovered that it was for inducement of voters.

    Based on the 36 states, about $111million (N66.6billion) has been deployed by the leading opposition party to influence voters.

    The intelligence report indicated that the money was different from the cash allocated to “compromise some officers of INEC, policemen and security agents in some states” which had been marked by security agencies.

    An intelligence source said: “ Reports so far have showed that the main opposition party has allocated $3m(N1.8billion) to each of its state chapters under the guise of logistics for the general elections.

    “But intelligence confirmed that the cash is for vote buying with about N400,000 devoted to some polling units out of the nation’s 120,000.

    “Some of the huge cash cannot be converted to Naira because of the surveillance on Bureau De Change operators by the EFCC and DSS.

    “And most banks have become circumspect in view of a similar experience in 2015 in which about N23.9 poll bribery cash was shared through their branches.”

    The source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, gave insights into the alleged compromise of some INEC officers through a former top shots of the electoral commission who had been engaged as consultants.

    The source added: “Detectives also discovered a ‘grand compromise’ of some INEC officers, policemen and others in some states. A former INEC top officer and ex-Resident Electoral Commissioner are implicated in the plans to compromise the nation’s electoral integrity.

    “These former top INEC officers were found to have played a key role in the recruitment of the ad hoc staff in some strategic states by using internal links/ surrogates in INEC to perfect their plot. Many officers in INEC, who were recruited by these former officers, are still loyal to them.

    “These ex-officers had infiltrated the system and could cause any sabotage of the poll at any point, if it does not favour those who hired them. This is why it is easier for the opposition to have every detail about the movement and actions of INEC chairman and his National Commissioners.

    “The intelligence report will be made available to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, especially as it relates to its field officers in some states.

    “As for policemen and other security agents, the appropriate authorities are handling specific cases. And these issues will be attended to before the beginning of the poll on Saturday.”

    Asked if the intelligence report has been made available to the National Peace Committee, the source said: “It is still an intelligence document as I speak with you now.

    Read also: Will litigants get justice at election tribunals?

    “The challenge we are having also is that a member of the committee has been fingered in a political romance with the opposition because of vested interests in some deals.

    “Notwithstanding, the government will decide on how and when to brief relevant stakeholders.”

    Reacting, INEC said it was unaware of the existence of a recording of the PDP corrupting its men.

    In the leaked telephone conversation, a top government official in Rivers State was heard mapping out plans on how to win the last Saturday’s election, which was rescheduled.

    INEC officials were said to have been settled to pave the way for the ruling party in the state.

    Besides, names of the officials were mentioned in the conversation, which include officials from neighbouring states.

    The government official could also be heard issuing out warning to kill any INEC officials who fails to cooperate after collecting money from the government.

    However, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said the commission was yet to see the purported recording.

    Okoye, who was responding to inquiry by The Nation, said: “I have not seen the recording you are alluding to.”

    Also reacting, the PDP said the opposition party lacked the financial wherewithal to deploy such cash.

    Its spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan: “We don’t have such funds anywhere, but we enjoy massive support and goodwill of a greater number of Nigerians. As an opposition party, where can we get that money.

    “It was the same APC that mocked us a few weeks ago, saying that we were broke and that we could not fund our campaign. Now they have turned around to accuse us of spending such funds.

    “Is it not strange that a ruling party is now portraying itself as the victim simply because they have been rejected by the people?

    “Rather, it is the APC that has spent humongous amount on their campaign across the country and they are still spending. We have the figures and at the appropriate time we shall release them. For now, we are focused on the coming elections. So, we are very busy right now.”

  • PDP urges people to vote

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the people of Anambra State to exercise their franchise on Saturday despite the let down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last weekend.

    The Chairman of Atiku/Obi Campaign Council, Oseloka Obaze, who addressed reporters yesterday, regretted the economic implications and opportunity cost of the postponement.

    He maintained that four years was enough time for INEC to prepare for the elections, “the postponement was a systemic failure on the part of INEC,” he added.

    According to him, INEC must apologise for causing so much frustration and international embarrassment to Nigeria, even as he urged Nigerians to ensure that their voices were heard through the ballot on the rescheduled dates.

    Read also: PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

    He said: “INEC should revisit its directives that political campaigns should not be reopened. Our party takes a strong exception to that, and if need be, we are willing to approach the court to seek interpretation of the Electoral Act.

    “Our party in Anambra State will meet with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to inspect those materials, just the way we inspected them when they arrived, to ensure their sanctity has not been violated. And that should apply across board.”

  • Kajuru killings: PDP calls for arrest of perpetrators

    Kaduna State Gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Isah Ashiru has urged the State Government and Security Agencies to fish out and prosecute those involved in the killings of villagers in Kajuru area of the state.

    Ashiru, in a statement he issued in Kaduna on Monday, expressed shock by the report of the murder of innocent people, describing the situation as unfortunate.

    ” This unfortunate incident is not only an unwanted addition to the list of the past similar ones, but is also a clear indication that insecurity still remains a huge challenge in some parts of Kaduna state.

    “The fact that the loss of human lives has been confirmed makes the whole issue terribly shocking.

    “The act clearly smacks of callousness and a descent into barbarism.

    “This will require a tremendous determination and demonstration of a sense of justice and fairness on the part of the authorities whose responsibility it is to not only deal appropriately with the perpetrators of such acts but to also forestall their recurrence.

    “Let me quickly remind my dear good people of Kaduna State of the need to embrace peace and eschew violence so that the diversity with which Almighty God has endowed us can be harnessed for the good of all of us.

    “Our State is big, bountiful and rich enough to accommodate all of us; all we need to do is to continuously remind ourselves of the fact that resorting to violence has never benefitted us as a people,” Ashiru said.

    He urged people of the state to “endeavour to come together, regardless of political, religious or ethnic differences, to let the world know that we are committed to ridding our state of violence

    “At the same time, we must be willing to live as true brothers and sisters that we have always been.

    “While we condole with the bereaved families, I also wish to re-assure everyone again that my bid to clinch the governorship of Kaduna state is driven by both an immense concern for our people and a total determination to rescue the state from misrule.

    “I, therefore, wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, people of Kajuru local government area as well as the government and the entire people of Kaduna state over this unfortunate incident.

    “It is my fervent prayer that Almighty God who created those souls will expose the perpetrators of the heinous act.”

    It would be recalled that unknown armed men had on February 11, attacked and killed 66 persons including children and women in eight settlements in Kajuru local government area of the state. (NAN)

  • Facts show APC sabotaging INEC, PDP alleges

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of sabotaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in alleged orchestrated plot to engineer a staggered presidential election.

    This, the main opposition party said, was contrary the “simulated” stance by the Presidency and the national chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole in condemning the postponement of the February 16 elections.

    In a statement Sunday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party recalled its ceaseless protests against the continued retention of Mrs Amina Zakari at a strategic post in INEC.

    The PDP reiterated its position that Mrs Zakari is a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    The statement said, “We have been reliably informed that the same Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC commissioner played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari Presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the February 16 elections.

    “The reason for this is that President Buhari is determined to have a staggered election where he can use security agencies to subvert the will of the people at the polls.

    “These APC elements in INEC engineered actions that affected the distribution and delivery of INEC sensitive materials to designated locations, thereby frustrating the electoral process.

    “We also have details of how a hired team of data hackers corrupted the voters register, with a view to causing mass confusion and voters suppression on election day.

    “Nigerians would have been shocked that many registered voters in possession of their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) would have arrived their polling centres on election day, only to discover to their amazement that their names had disappeared from the register in their units”.

    Read Also: No more campaigns, collection of PVCs — INEC

    The PDP said intelligence at its disposal further detailed how agents of the Buhari Presidency allegedly infiltrated the distribution system and ensured that sensitive election materials did not arrive at the designated locations; with the view to stalling elections in several states and paving way for a staggered election.

    “This is in addition to deliberate swapping of sensitive election materials between different states and local governments so as to muddle up the process and stall election in affected areas. In some of states like Edo, sensitive election materials did not arrive at their designated points on APC interruption.

    “The PDP urges Nigerians to continue to be alert in resisting the APC and the Buhari Presidency in their plot to sabotage our elections.

    “Our promise to Nigerians is that we will continue to stand with the people in exposing APC’s rigging plots and stopping them from creating more havoc and destruction of our democratic process.

    “We therefore call on President Buhari to save himself from further disgrace, as the signpost of enemy of democracy, by ensuring that his cabal and their ilk in APC cease forthwith from tampering with our electoral process”, the PDP added.

     

     

  • 3000 dump PDP for APGA in Anambra

    Over 3,000 members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra South Senatorial zone at the weekend dumped the party for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The defectors consequently endorsed Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, APGA senatorial candidate of the zone at a rally in Orsumenyi, Nnewi South Council area of the state.

    They expressed their resolve to ensure full realization of the ambition of the senatorial hopeful, describing him as one who practiced what he preached.

    Read Also: PDP rejects postponement

    Receiving the decampees, Ukachukwu commended them for the bold step, pledging quality representation if voted into power.

    “Representation was not just about the glamour, power and money as well as honour it commands, but principally about service to the people,” he said.

    He challenged every citizen of the zone to drive round his community to appreciate the construction and asphalting of roads in the area.

    “It is sad that those now elbowing one another for the senatorial seat could not do a single project for the people, including the incumbent who has wasted eight whole years on the seat without anything to show for it,” he added.

  • ‘Saraki, PDP masterminded polls postponement’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) South West Youth Forum has accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of orchestrating series of events that eventually led to the postponement of the Presidential election earlier schedule for this weekend.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, by its spokesperson, Mr. Olutunde Mayowa, the Forum reminded Nigerians that the opposition created the chain of events that led to the postponement when the Senate President deliberately delayed the passage of the INEC budget thereby denying the agency funds its needed to kick start the preparations.

    “Though INEC has its blame for shoddy preparation but we should be clear headed in tracing both the remote and immediate cause of this postponement and the embarrassment it has caused our nation.

    “Saraki’s National Assembly has become nothing but a clog in the wheel of progress by making it impossible for agencies to access funds they need to function, that much they did when for months Saraki and his hatchet men failed to pass the INEC budget. The result of that is what we are seeing now.

    “We were expecting INEC to perform miracles, but truth must be told, the opposition created this scenario for their selfish benefits,” the Forum said.

  • Postponement: PDP urges Nigerians to remain firm

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to remain firm and not to buckle before anti-democratic forces as a result of the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections nationwide.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Saturday, the main opposition party expressed shock at the last minute decision to postpone the polls.

    Spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, who address newsmen, said the vehemently rejected the sudden postponement of the February 16 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a few hours before the commencement of polls.

    According to the PDP, the decision taken by INEC was a grand plot to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari Presidency the space to perfect their rigging plans, which have been resisted by Nigerians to this point.

    The party spokesman said the PDP was fully prepared for the polls, with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, having worked very hard in readiness for the election.

    Ologbondiyan said, “Our members and supporters, in their millions and generality of Nigerians that are eager to participate in the democratic process had already moved close to their polling units in readiness to vote and to defend their votes.

    “In some cases, Nigerians were already at their polling units in orderly queue in the hope to vote out the incompetent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Countless of patriotic Nigerians and families had spent huge resources and made exhaustive sacrifices in travelling to their various polling areas to vote for their consensus candidate, Atiku Abubakar, only for INEC to announce this devastating postponement.

    “The public space is replete with how the Buhari Presidency mounted pressure on INEC leadership to postpone the election at the dying minute, so as to place more burdens on voters and frustrate their enthusiasm for the election”.

    The PDP regretted that Nigerians were made to lose trillions of naira, risked their lives on the road and in the air as well as faced other huge loses just because some politicians want to perpetuate themselves in office.

    The spokesman continued, “President Buhari in his desperation for power has again exhibited his insensitivity to the sensibilities of Nigerians, particularly in his deceitful attempt to heap blames on INEC for a plot that was hatched and executed by his Presidency.

    “It is instructive to state that the reasons given for the postponement, including the logistic challenges in the distribution of sensitive election materials, as well as security concerns, were all the machinations of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to create confusion and arrive at a predetermined end, which is to rig the election.

    Read Also: PDP rejects postponement

    “The APC and the Buhari Presidency, having realised that they have no chance of winning, had continued to prepare the ground by inciting acts of violence in various parts of the country, issuing threats to election observers, using the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to escalate a sense of insecurity, burning INEC offices to paralyze its operations as well as using government officials to openly mount pressure on the commission to shift the elections.

    “This is in addition to the compromising of government facilities and agencies to frustrate the distribution of sensitive election materials including results sheets in various states; the provocative substitution of already trained INEC polling officials with APC members as well as the deployment of security forces to simultaneously arrest PDP leaders and supporters, particularly in Kwara, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Kogi, Bayelsa among other states in order to create a sense of national insecurity and trigger violent resistance by the people.

    “APC’s new plot is to escalate series of challenges that will eventually paralyze INEC’s operation in some states so as to stagger the election and pave way to isolate certain critical states, after which it will use compromised security agents to muzzle the polls in those states in favour of President Buhari.

    “Our response to INEC and the Buhari Presidency is that they have only succeeded in postponing the evil day for their candidate, President Buhari”

    The party further said Nigerians will never adjust in their resolve to resist the APC rigging plans and serve President Buhari his defeat certificate at the polls any day, any time.

    “The PDP therefore stands with Nigerians at this critical moment and urge them to stand together in the overall interest of our nation. Our party appreciates the sacrifices and commitment made by Nigerians in the pursuit of a new leadership in our country; we understand the pains and distress they are passing through at this moment due to this postponement.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP urges Nigerians not to despair or allow our resilient spirit for which we are known all over the world to be subjugated at this crucial time. We must pick up ourselves against all odds and stand firm for the future of our dear nation.

    “In that regard, the PDP directs all our members and supporters to remain calm and encourage one another at this critical time. We all must stand together in preparation for the final push next Saturday. We must never give up until victory is assured.

    “Nigerians will never surrender to President Buhari’s anti-democratic forces that want to subjugate our people and derail our hard-earned democracy. President Buhari should therefore perish the thought of rigging this election or achieving a self-succession bid

    “The PDP calls on the international community to note what is happening in Nigeria and hold President Buhari as well as the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in our country”.