Ogun PDP, Muslim Rights Concern disagree

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun State chapter, yesterday insisted that the postponement of the February elections by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) was done in the interest of all Nigerians. 

  The party stressed that the decision was not done to favour any particular party, as being rumoured in some quarters.

  Rising from an emergency meeting in Ijebu-Igbo that reviewed the INEC decision, the party’s Chairman of Mobilisation and Sensitisation

Committee (Southwest), Prince Buruji Kashamu, told journalists that apart from the worrisome security situation, which would negatively affect the elections, almost half of the 68 million registered voters would be disenfranchised if the elections had gone, as scheduled.

  The PDP State Chairman, Chief Bayo Dayo, said, “from all indications, INEC is not prepared for the elections. For example, my wife, as at now, is yet to get her Permanent

Voter Card (PVC).”

  But the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) sharply disagreed with the PDP members’ view.

  The Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who spoke in Abeokuta argued, “it is surprising by this postponement. 

  “It is unnecessary because countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are ravaged by worse security situations, have successfully conducted general elections and did not succumb to security threat,” he said.

  “We strongly suspect that the security factor is a mere smokescreen. The real raison d’etre lies in the imminent defeat of the ruling party.” 

  Kashamu, who is the party’s senatorial aspirant for Ogun East, addressed a large crowd of party supporters. 

  He charged them to work tirelessly to ensure that all their aspirants, including President Jonathan, emerge victorious in the elections.

  “We (PDP) are really on ground, judging by the large number of people who attend our rallies,” he said. 

  “But that does not mean we should relax. We must continue to work through mobilisation until after the elections.”

  To Kashamu, Jonathan would win the election convincingly “because his achievements speak for itself.”

  The party’s governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, told the crowd that there was no more wrangling in the party.

  “We are now more united than ever before to fight our common opponent (Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the APC). But it is not over until it is over.”

  Isiaka said information available to him indicated that only 40 per cent of registered voters had collected their PVCs in Ogun State. 

  “So, I am appealing to INEC to do something urgently to correct the situation.”