• Charges INEC on transparency

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on all political parties in the country, as well as all other relevant stakeholders in the electoral process to relegate all narrow group interests and join hands with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee the success of the 2015 general elections.

   PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Sunday said all parties must come together in the interest of the nation and ensure that measures that create the environment for credible, free and fair elections are firmly put in place.

  “The responsibility of building a united, strong and prosperous nation anchored on democratic principles lies on all of us collectively. We, therefore, charge all political parties, other relevant groups and all stakeholders in the electoral process to jettison all personal/group interests and put that of our nation and its people ahead of all.

   “The future of our nation is determined by what we do or say at this point in time. We must therefore resolve to work together as patriotic citizens and join hands with INEC and relevant institutions of government to ensure credible, free and fair elections devoid of rancor and avoidable disagreements.

   “At this point, what should be paramount is the well being of our people and the survival of our dear nation and its democracy. We must therefore close ranks as brothers and sisters and resist the machinations of enemies of our country who do not wish us well.

   “In this regard, we must redirect our political discourse and energies to productive issues that promote national development, reinforce our unity and engender mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence of our people. It is only through this that we can create the enabling environment for peaceful general elections and guarantee the overall stability of our country.

  “Nigeria is a great nation. We must appreciate the resilience of our people and their resolve to succeed. In the last four years, through the meticulous application of policies by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration, our economy has grown to become the largest in Africa and the third fastest growing in the world, a feat that would not have been possible without the support of hard working Nigerians, who have excelled in business and economy.

  “Indeed, we cannot afford to fail our citizens at this time of our national life. We must work hard to continue to ensure that the environment that contributed to the successes we have recorded is adequately maintained and enhanced,” the PDP said.

   The party also called on INEC to gird it loins and appreciate the fact that it is “saddled with an enormous responsibility and that “Nigerians expect nothing less than a transparent electoral process.”

    Urging INEC to “work harder and effectively use the period provided by the shift in the dates of elections to perfect all arrangements including its processes and equipment for credible election, the PDP said the commission should understand that “observations by stakeholders are not intended to castigate, weaken or destroy the electoral process but to assist in deepening democracy so that at the end of the day, Nigerians will be the ultimate winners.”

   The party also urged the electoral umpire to adequately test-run its equipment in a mock election session, within two weeks to demonstrate and ensure their practicability and reliability in the field.

  While commending INEC for sacking its two officials involved in denying non-indigenes of their voters cards in Lagos, the PDP said such practices are still going on in various parts of Lagos and other select states and urged the commission to ensure that the trend is completely checked and that all registered voters are given their PVCs to participate in the elections.

   Finally, the PDP called on all registered voters to continue to show patriotism by obtaining their voter’s card and voting for the candidates of their choice in the elections, especially recognising the need to move the nation in the path of peace, unity, tolerance, respect for the

rule of law and personal freedom of all citizens.

   Also yesterday, ‎the National Auditor of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, at the weekend advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to allow eligible voters to use their Temporary Voters’ Cards, TVCs during the forthcoming general elections to avoid rigging and disenfrachisement of millions of Nigerians at the polls.

 Adeyanju in an interview in Abuja advised the Commission to commence the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards,  PVCs in the subsequent bye elections arising from the general elections to test run the Card readers just being introduced by the Commission.

   According to Adeyanju, “this is to ensure peaceful and mass participation of the eligible voters, we want innovation but the full usage of the PVCs and the Card readers for now can not work for now, they have to test run the Card readers, right now, the INEC has not been showing or demonstrating how the Card readers will work.”

  “The Card Reader as I was told will attend to a voter for almost five minutes also, to attend to about 500 voters, it will take up to 8 hours, how can this work as expected with the level of illiteracy in Nigeria? To me, I think it will be better for the INEC to test run it first and adopt its usage it the future elections and not now,” he insisted.

   Alhaji Adeyanju while defending his stand for the use of TVCs stated that it was by divine intervention that prompted the INEC to postpone the elections as it would have brought serious calamity to the country since it had now been exposed to Nigerians and the International Communities that INEC was not fully prepared for the polls as it claimed.

   According to him, “to me, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega was not bold enough to tell the public that they were not ready for the elections because of moral burden, if he tell the nation the truth, they would have accept and forgive him, as we speak over 23millioms eligible voters are yet to get their PVCs and you are saying without the PVCs they will not vote, in Ogun State where I comes from,the collection of the PVCs is about 38 per cent, what happens to the rest?”

   Adeyanju, however, appealed to the eligible voters, who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so within the time frame provided with the rescheduling of the elections so that they would not be enfranchised by the INEC .

    Speaking on the chances of the ruling party in the forthcoming general elections despite the mounting opposition against it, Alhaji Ageyanju said, “we are set for the elections any day any time, our presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan will clear the polls in all the six geo-political zones, we will not only retain the PDP controlled states, we will win more states and more seats at the state and National Assemblies, there will be no hiding place for the opposition, Nigerians have tested our Partyand they will support us again for the continuity of our transformation revolution in all the sectors.”

   Meanwhile a group called the Nigeria Prosperity Project (NPP) has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop over-heating the already charged political

atmosphere and offer useful services as a patriot and statesman that Nigeria can rely on in times of trouble.

   The non- governmental organisation decried Obasanjo’s unrelenting attacks on Jonathan and his administration, saying “this is uncalled for and unbecoming of a statesman.

  National Co-ordinator of the NPP, Mr. Louis Ebodaghe said Obasanjo has no moral justification to descend so low in his continuous tirades and unnecessary outburst.

  The group noted that Obasanjo is merely an envious former leader who is uncomfortable with the

achievements of President Jonathan.

   Under Jonathan’s administration, the co-ordinator pointed out that 12 new federal universities have been built, nine in the North and only three in the south.

   According to the group, “during the eight years rule of Obasanjo/Atiku Abubakar administration, they built only two private universities; Bells University in Abeokuta, Ogun State for Obasanjo and ABATI University in Yola, Adamawa State for Atiku.

   The group noted that President Jonathan more than anything needs commendation and support to take the nation to the next level.

  Ebodaghe added that “no matter the level of misgivings, the facts eloquently speak for themselves. The development strides of Jonathan’s administration are on ground and verifiable. People may have different motives, but Nigeria and Nigerians desires meaningful development, which Jonathan represents”.

   He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the general elections from February 14 to March 28 because of the security challenges in parts of the country and the fact that millions of Nigerians were yet to collect their permanent voter cards.