Atiku raises the alarm over plans to scuttle election

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm over plans by some elements in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to create violence in some states to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). to postpone Saturday’s election.

He said the alternative plan is to hold staggered elections in which elections will not be held simultaneously across the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, PDP presidential candidate, warned that failure to hold elections on the same day across the country would be an invitation to rigging.

He added that the violence in Kano was a prelude to this plan.

Mr. Shaibu added, “Today, there is serious violence in Kwanar Dangora on the outskirts of Kano City. This is a state where the APC has influence. They have started violence like they did in 2019, where they forced a rerun and then used violence to win .

“We also have it on good authority that this will happen in Borno, Yobe, Kaduna. Kaduna, in particular, should be chosen because the Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has pushed his people to disobey President Muhammadu Buhari. He has also walked from pillar to post post since the plan to release the old naira notes to voters was dropped by the Federal Government.

Adjutant Atiku commended the Nigerian Police Force for arresting and prosecuting the APC federal member of parliament in Rivers State, Ephraim Nwuzi, who was caught on video discussing plans to attack electoral officials in the state.

The PDP candidate asked the police to leave no stone unturned ahead of the election, especially in Rivers State, which is one of the most volatile areas during the election.

He added, “We commend the police for arresting and prosecuting the member of parliament representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ephraim Nwuzi. His statement is proof that APC has a big plan to create violence on election day. This is just a strategy to hold on to power after the Nigerian failure.

He also asked the police to pay attention to states like Ebonyi, Cross River, and Imo state where the governors want to do whatever it takes to ensure that Mr. Tinubu gets the 25 percent requirement.

“Ebonyi, Cross River, and Imo are all traditional PDP strongholds. However, the governor is a member of the APC. They know that they cannot deliver the state to Bola Tinubu, who stands no chance of winning. With vote buying now very difficult, the only option is to suppress the voice through violence.

“The police, military, and other security agencies must monitor the country to prevent violence,” he said.

The PDP candidate, who commended the massive deployment of security agents in Lagos, said local government areas such as Oshodi/Isolo, Amuwo Odofin, Eti Osa, Ikorodu, Ojo, Ajeromi/Ifelodun and Surulere should be vigilant to prevent intimidation. and rigging.

“There have been complaints of voter suppression in Lagos in the past. In the 2019 presidential election, Oshodi/Isolo witnessed violence, which forced the election to be canceled in some polling units. Even in Eti Osa today, council secretaries and traditional leaders have vowed to evict traders if they do not vote APC.

“They did this to impress their master and godfather, Bola Tinubu, and we hope international observers will see this. We commend the police for calling out those behind the threat against non-indigenes. But more efforts should be channeled to arrest them bigots like that,” he said.

Frank Shaibu
Special Assistant, Public Communications Atiku Abubakar,
Former Vice President (1999-2007) and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party.
Abuja
February 23, 2023.