The All Progressives Congress, APC, has described as “hogwash” Friday’s outburst by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors forum that the nullification of elections of PDP governors was a plot by the APC to take control of “oil-producing states by all means necessary”.
The national secretary of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, dismissed the statement credited to the PDP governors as “clannish” and “sectional”.
“The APC and indeed Nigerians are increasingly worried by the clannish and sectional positions being canvassed by the PDP Governors.
“We reject the PDP Governors’ attempt to polarise the country along oil-producing and non-producing lines. All geo-political regions of the country are important and equal partners in progress in efforts by the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to return Nigeria to its respected position in the comity of nations.
“During the 2015 General Elections, in many parts of the South South, particularly Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Nigerians and the international community watched in horror how the PDP used a combination of security operatives, thugs and party agents to rig elections against the popular will of the electorate.
“Nigerians are still recovering from the last 16 years of locust under the PDP. We invite the PDP to supports current efforts aimed at social, economic and institutional reforms. Change has come,” Mr. Buni said in a statement on Saturday.
The APC national secretary said the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.
He said recent court decisions in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba States are not partisan but simply a confirmation of PDP’s brazen election malpractices, manipulation and intimidation perpetuated during the 2015 General Elections.
“We advise the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.
“The APC urges Nigerians, and indeed members of the international community who see the merit in efforts to correct Nigeria’s electoral systems, not to be distracted by this ploy by the PDP to discredit judicial efforts.
“PDP Governors’ allegation that ‘APC is bent on foisting a one-party state in Nigeria’ is yet another silly talk.
“INEC is the only constitutional body empowered to register and deregister political parties. The PDP fears are understandable owing to their growing unpopularity after the last 16 years of maladministration and looting which have resulted in the country’s economic ruin by consecutive PDP government,” he said.
