PDP has no plans to win polls through legitimate votes – Oshiomhole

TRACKKNG>>The All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, said the leaked security report on the plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to deploy $111 million for vote-buying across the states under the pretence of “logistics” during the general elections raises new fears ahead of the rescheduled polls.

National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who stated this while reacting to claims by the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, that the ruling party has procured Smart Card Readers to be deployed in the South-South, South-East and North-East zones, maintained that the allegations show that PDP has no plans to win polls through legitimate votes.

He said the former vice president is working with certain individuals in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have known the source of importation of the Smart Card Readers and where they would be deployed.

He said: “Assuming without conceding that what he said was true, it means Atiku is working hand in gloves with INEC ICT unit as to know where the Smart Card Readers are coming from. Nigerians should be united when it comes to free and fair election. Our candidate is committed to that not as candidate but as Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It is now clear that the PDP has no plans to win the elections through legitimate votes, but through illegally procured votes.”

Oshiomhole debunked that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the security men to shoot Nigerians. He explained that the President’s direction was a departure from that of then President Olusegun Obasanjo , who directed the military to shoot members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) at sight during the 2003 general elections.

He argued that the interpretation given to Buhari’s charge by the PDP and its presidential candidate means that they have conceded defeat.

“PDP has conceded defeat. Atiku claims to have control of the South-South. That is not true. I come from Edo State and it is under the control of APC. By saying he has two out of six zones, it means he has lost.
“Atiku knows he can’t win. In 2015, he lost his ward, he procured his senatorial zone for Senator Jubril Aminu, he did same for Senator Jonathan Zwingina. Let him deny it, I am ready to meet him in court.

“Atiku is afraid of defeat, we are ready for election and by Saturday, Atiku would remain a permanent candidate that he has always been.”
Justifying the President’s directive that ballot box snatchers should be dealt with, he said: “The President has displayed courage by giving directive that thugs shouldn’t be allowed to disrupt the process. No one should have problem with that.
“Under PDP, thugs unleashed violence. No responsible candidate would speak for thugs. Atiku wants to preside over the destruction of Nigeria. He has said he would give amnesty to corrupt people.

“When the international community insists on free elections, they are demanding for violence free elections. Atiku has distorted the President speech. His rejection of Mr. President position has exposed the PDP for what they are: they thrive on violence.
“They have a history of wasting people’s lives and once you dismantle violence, PDP has lost. You can see what is happening in Akwa Ibom and other South-South states that they can’t write results again. Things have changed.”

Also speaking, APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre issa-Onilu, said: “In the aftermath of the configured card readers recently recovered from PDP agents in some states, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has gone to town with face-saving conspiracies that APC has imported slow-working card readers from China, which would be deployed to the South-South and South East he considers his stronghold.”

He added: “Atiku also alleges a plan to shut down communication on election day. How illogical that a party that is in a contest with clear superior numerical support would shutdown communication on election day. Will the communication shutdown affect only the PDP, while leaving APC supporters and agents? Nigerians can see through the infantile lies.

“Nigerians will recall that the APC had earlier reported the PDP’s plot before last Saturday’s postponed elections. The recent arrest of several armed PDP political thugs and recovery of INEC card readers and arms from PDP agents in some states points directly to the PDP’s plan as revealed by the security report.

“Atiku has called on the President to retract his instruction to security agencies regarding violence, ballot box thieves, and other electoral malpractices. The question is how such instruction disturbs anyone that is truly interested in free, fair and credible elections.

“We reiterate the resolution of the Monday’s meeting of the APC expanded National Caucus, which urged the security agencies to step up their activities by ensuring that all those involved in violence, ballot box snatching, falsification of results, vote-buying and other election illegalities should face the full weight of the law. It is a shame that PDP is kicking against this. We are not surprised because PDP has marshalled plans to get to power by all means possible. The option of one-man-one vote is not on the PDP’s table.

“Atiku has admitted what we already know that he is not popular by claiming he has two geopolitical zones, while the APC has the four other geopolitical zones. On election day, Atiku and the PDP should prepare for the shock of their lives. The South-South and South-East are not oblivious of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded in the zones under the Buhari-led APC administration, compared to the PDP’s wasted years.

“The good people of the South-South, South-East and indeed all the geopolitical zones will speak through their legitimate votes, not the procured ballots planned by the PDP. The PDP’s illegal plot requires improved surveillance by our security agencies particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and allied agencies to check illicit financial flows and movement in the lead-up to and on election day.

“On INEC’s part, following the unfortunate last-minute postponement of the election, the electoral body must realise that it has a lot to prove to the Nigerian electorate that it is still able to conduct credible elections. A first step will be that the electoral body identify and change its officers who have now beyond doubt become partisan and are actively working for partisan interests.

“Finally, PDP Tuesday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has achieved only one thing: Atiku and PDP sank into a new low of rudeness and incivility. They showed acute disrespect to the office of the President with the choice of words employed. This is the same office they intend to occupy.”