With the Edo State governorship election barely six days away, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that there are plots to scuttle the exercise.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement issued on Sunday, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the frivolous lawsuit to dash the exercise.
To Ologbondiyan, the said interests who are masquerading through certain political groups are seeking to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.
The governorship election is scheduled to hold on September 19.
SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raises alarm over plots by certain interests recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use a frivolous lawsuit to scuttle the September 19 Edo state governorship election, following APC’s realization that there is no way it can win in the election.
The PDP revealed that the said interests who are masquerading through certain political groups are seeking to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.
Nigerians are already aware that section 87(10) (11) of the Electoral Act, clearly prohibits the courts from restraining the conduct of party primaries and general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This section of the Electoral Act has put paid to situations in the past, where groups or individuals who have no real stake in elections were used as canon fodders by selfish individuals and groups to manipulate the courts and frustrate electoral process against the interest of the people.
It is therefore clear that the aim of the APC is to use the political groups to drag in the judiciary, trigger constitutional crisis in Edo state, the Niger Delta region and the nation at large and blame it on the court.
The APC’s calculation is a re-enactment of the similar judicial quagmire that led to the scuttling of the 1993 general election, a development that led to a serious national crisis that almost destroyed the corporate existence of our country.
The PDP stands with the people of Edo state in condemning this plot by the APC to derail the democratic order, scuttle the governorship election, create an emergency situation, forcefully seize power and foist an undemocratic and oppressive regime in Edo state.
Our party, therefore, cautions such unpatriotic persons to note that the people of Edo state are ready to go to the poll on September 19 and will vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the schedule of election or attempt a forceful takeover of their state.
Similarly, our Party has been informed of the drafting of Soldiers to the residence of the sacked former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in GRA Benin and Iyamho.
Our Party holds that it is indecorous, shameful and sinful on the part of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to leave the flanks of our people in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kogi open to bandits while Soldiers are guarding the residence of suspended Oshiomhole just to enable him perpetrate electoral heist.
Not even on the face of our current insecurity should such an impudent and inconsiderate actions be considered.
We therefore call on President Mohammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief to immediately withdraw the troops from Oshiomhole”s residence and deploy them to their constitutional duty post in the interest of our nation.
On our part, the PDP and our candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, are prepared for the election and we counsel the APC to stop wasting its time in the court and take steps to withdraw from the contest if it is not ready to face the crushing defeat that awaits it and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu on September 19.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
