APC plotting to undermine security at polls, says PDP

THREATS to peace, imagined or real, have continued to rend the air, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that it was aware of plans by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the security of lives and property during the rescheduled general elections.

   The party’s allegation was made known to newsmen yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who disclosed “the latest act of desperation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine security of lives and property in the course of the forthcoming general elections.”

   According to him, “this has been confirmed by their vigorous campaign of calumny against the military and their consistent demand that soldiers must not be deployed for security surveillance at the polling booths in the forthcoming elections.”

   He also accused the APC presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu‎ Buhari, of making comments capable of inciting his supporters into causing violence during and after the elections to the effect that “the patience of the APC and its leaders were on test.” 

   He added: “One wonders what he means by that and what he and his supporters intend to do once that patience runs out.” He further cited the AFP question on Friday, February 6, on the outcome of the presidential election, and his answer: “I am not going to lose; so I won’t answer that question.”

   On Wednesday, in an interview on ARISE Television, he added, Buhari was asked what his reaction would be if he loses the election and he answered, “we shall see.” 

   Fani-Kayode continued: “As far as we are concerned, these are ominous and subtle threats to unleash violence on the Nigerian people and all those that he perceives are his enemies in the event of his losing the election.” 

Opposition flays Fayose’s comment on appeal judgment

   In another development, the APC in Ekiti State has asked Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop denigrating the nation’s judiciary in its adjudication functions. 

   Reacting to Fayose’s criticism of the judiciary’s ruling that barred the deployment of military for election purposes, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that the governor’s utterances smacked of contempt of court and an attempt to blackmail the judges.

   He said his attack on the judges was a continuation of his assault on the judiciary, having led thugs to attack the judges of Ekiti High Court, tore their cloths and destroyed court records in the Chief Judge’s office while his secretary was beaten up.

  “How can a Federal High Court in Jos and the nation’s Appeal Court make a pronouncement on same subject banning the Federal Government from deploying soldiers for elections and it now becomes the lot of only Fayose among the politicians to raise objection and castigate the judges?”

   He urged the governor to imbibe civility in his approach to issues and stop portraying himself as a man not fit for societies where the law works.

Rivers chapter insists on Okrika rally

Nevertheless, the APC in Rivers State has vowed to hold its governorship rally in Okrika irrespective of Tuesday’s attack on its members. 

   Similarly, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Magnus Abe, has urged the Inspector General of Police to convince Nigerians that the agency is determined to fight crime and support a free, fair, credible and non-violent 2015 elections by treating the Okrika incident as a test case.

   Abe condemned in strong terms the attempt on the lives of APC faithful, including the guber candidate, Dakuku Peterside, at Okrika. 

 He said that no Nigerian deserves to die for identifying with a political party and campaigning for votes, describing the perpetrators as enemies of peace and the nation who value sitting in power above the lives of innocent Nigerians.