Barely one week to the Kogi governorship election, one of
the top contesting political parties, the PDP, is raising an alarm over what it
calls plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Presidency to rig
the elections in favour of the APC.
In an 11-paragraph press release signed by the National
Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP says it has incontrovertible records
of secret meeting between the Presidency and the INEC leadership as well as
some top security officers and the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, on arrangements to take over Kogi State.
According to the PDP “we alert all to be aware of this
planned coup against democracy, by the new sheriff, who though, being the
biggest beneficiary of free and fair elections in the history of Nigeria, is
now out to corrupt the electoral system.”
The statement further read, “Intelligence information
available to us shows that at the meeting with the new INEC leadership under
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission was given orders regarding the posting of
compromised personnel to strategic areas in the state to manipulate the card
readers as well as the actual voting process in favour of the APC, with
assurance of adequate protection by government security agencies, particularly the
Directorate of State Services (DSS).”
They also alleged that an expected visit of President Buhari
to Kogi State to endorse the APC candidate, Audu Abubakar, is part of the
rigging process.
The party, however, added that it was sure of the support of
the people of Kogi State and their preference for the PDP and its candidate,
Governor Idris Wada and that they would not accept any results that do not
reflect their wishes and aspirations at the poll.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Presidency has denied
holding any secret meetings on the Kogi elections.
The President’s assistant on Public Affairs, Mr Garba Shehu,
told Channels Television on Sunday evening that the PDP is merely afraid of its
shadows.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the claims made by the PDP,
explaining that the President remains committed to free and fair elections.
Channels Tv
No comments:
Post a Comment