PDP slams Osinbajo over remarks on APC defeat in Akwa Ibom

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s refusal to acknowledge the defeat of Senator Godswill Akpabio as matter of great concern to Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians at large.

Reacting to the vice president’s remarks while on a visit to the state on Monday, the party said such remarks from a high ranking Nigerian was the highest display of self-deceit.

Osinbajo, a professor and a church leader, had reportedly said that Akpabio could not have failed the senatorial election, if the APC was not robbed of its mandate.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Mr Ini Ememobong, in Uyo yesterday, Akwa Ibom PDP noted that Akpabio and the APC had since the announcement of the federal elections results been trying to concoct tales to explain how and why they failed.

“For them, every other person and institution deserve the blame, except them. Their blame pendulum swings from the PDP to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to the electorate, etc.

“It is trite that the worst form of deceit is self-deceit. But for APC and Akpabio, deceit of any kind is the modus operandi. The highest display of self-deceit was the circus created for the vice president to perform yesterday at Uyo. Unknown to the VP that his hosts, especially Akpabio, are aspirants to the political comedy hall of fame, he appeared on the stage and was cued to perform.”

“He vomited exactly what he had been fed with. He exclaimed that their mandate had been stolen and that it would be reclaimed. While his immediate audience applauded him, the external audience was deeply disappointed at such illogical outburst from a person who ordinarily should be learned.

“For the record, Akwa Ibom people know who the mandate thieves are; they are those who refused to go on consultation and grassroots campaign but held rallies in towns. Instead of telling the people what their plans were, they proclaimed themselves god and touted their invincibility,” it stated.

The PDP alleged that the APC, ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and House of assembly polls, had sought help from Edo State, using Adams Oshiomhole as the liaison, to recruit armed political thugs ferried in 53 buses, led by Tony Kabaka and Osakpamwan (alias No Molest).

“They have mobilised touts to start peaceful protests that will snowball into violent unrest in Uyo, the state capital. They have also purchased and sneaked in weapons of different dimensions. That is their preoccupation, instead of reaching out to the electorate. For them, election preparation is synonymous with war readiness and nothing more pretentious.”