The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plots to instigate violence in order to derail the 2023 general elections.
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This was revealed by the PDP Spokesman, Debo Ologunagba during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, noting that the plot to disrupt the forthcoming elections was hatched after the ruling party knew that it cannot retain power in 2023.
Ologunagba added that the plan to derail the 2023 polls is coming weeks after the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu directed his party members to deploy violence and snatch power in the forthcoming polls.
He added that the ruling party has activated plots to orchestrate violent attacks in various states of the country aimed to trigger a nationwide security emergency situation.
He said, “We have called you today to through you alert Nigerians and the International Community of plots by enemies of democracy to frustrate and ultimately disrupt the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
We alert Nigerians that in compliance with the directive by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to his party members to deploy violence and snatch power in the 2023 general elections, the APC has realized that it has been rejected, has commenced its violent attacks to frustrate the conduct of the elections.
“Nigerians can recall how the deflated and desperate Asiwaju Tinubu, in a closed-door meeting in London earlier this month, declared to his members that ‘political power is not going to be served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte.’
“It is what we are doing; It is being determined; you do it at all cost; fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run with it.”
“In response to this directive, APC leaders and members have now activated plots to derail the electoral process through orchestrated violent attacks in various States of the country aimed to trigger a nationwide security emergency situation, instill fear and make it appear in conducive to conduct elections in the country.
“Part of the plot is the current attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in various parts of the country as witnessed in Ogun, Osun and Imo States where sections critical to the conduct of elections particularly those connected to the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were targeted and destroyed.“
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The party further said intelligence reports at its disposal indicate that there were plans by the APC to orchestrate attacks in other states, particularly in Kogi and Delta; some States of the South East.
It added that the ruling party is planning to organise attacks in parts of the North with the view to subverting the electoral process in as many States as possible.
The statement added: “The attack on INEC facilities is designed to prevent newly registered voters from collecting their PVCs; destroy the PVCs so that they will not be available for collection in INEC offices, and thirdly, destroy INEC equipment and cripple its capacity to conduct elections.
“The APC has introduced a very disturbing dimension of “purchasing” PVCs from unsuspecting Nigerians through monetary inducement masquerading as empowerment programmes.
“We’re not surprised at the resort to violence by Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC; because it is a clear acceptance of electoral defeat which apparently accounts for the APC’s Presidential Candidate’s decision to boycott the signing of the National Peace Accord by Presidential Candidates in the 2023 elections.”
The PDP advised the security agencies to take immediate steps to investigate and stop the APC from its vicious plot to derail our democratic process.
It also asked INEC to immediately invoke its regulatory powers and impose sanctions on Tinubu for constituting a clear and present danger to the electoral process.
The PDP however, advised Tinubu must accept the fact that its flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, is more popular and possess the competence, requisite experience, and mental alertness that Nigerians need.
It added: “It is apparent and disturbing that the APC Presidential Candidate has not issued any caution against the many acts of violence linked to members of his party. His body language and comments suggest the condoning of the ongoing violence in our electoral process.
“Of course, the London meeting where Asiwaju Tinubu directed his Party members to unleash violence on Nigerians was a closed-door event that inadvertently leaked to the public.
“The aim of the APC was to hit our nation with violence and mislead security agencies to direct their investigation on criminal elements and social restiveness, instead of the real culprit, the APC.
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“The design is to create tension across the country to validate a narrative that elections cannot hold, then orchestrate a Constitutional crisis with a view to justifying a shifting of the elections and perpetuate certain APC elements in office beyond May 29, 2023.
“The alarm raised by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on the several attacks on INEC’s facilities as widely reported in the media further confirms our fears.“
