The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned President Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress, APC, against using the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to blackmail the opposition and law abiding Nigerians.
The PDP in a press release signed by National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media & Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Kola Ologbondiyan, condemned the incessant blackmail and threats by the Buhari-led government and surmised that Nigerians will not buckle under any jackboots but will defeat him n February 16.
The PDP also noted that the APC was making frantic efforts to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry out their heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on Nigeria and blame it on the opposition.
Ologbondiyan said the APC have realized that there is no way President Muhammadu Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election hence the resort to blackmail.
The PDP named the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of INEC’s collation center, the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-graphical centers and polling units for allocation of fictitious votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of the nation’s borders to mercenaries to participate in the electoral process as some the ways APC has planned to rig the election.
The statement read, “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.
“The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely chose their leaders, no matter the threats.
READ ALSO: It’s Time for North-East To Produce President- Dogara
“The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election. This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary said Nigerians have reached a consensus in rallying behind the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the forthcoming election insisting that any result that does not reflect the wishes and aspiration of the people will be completely resisted.
The PDP calls on international community to note that the consequences of such resistance in a country of over 200 million people, who have made up their minds for a new leadership, is capable of triggering huge humanitarian crisis not only in Nigeria but also in the West African sub-region.
The party therefore urged all institutions responsible for the general election to save Nigeria from collapse by working towards guaranteeing a credible, free, fair and transparent election.
