The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has accused the All Progressives Congress,APC of desperately seeking to take over three states won by its candidates in the last general elections.PDP listed Delta, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom among the states being targeted by the APC.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday,Olisah Metuh, the national publicity secretary of PDP said , “You will recall that we had earlier alerted Nigerians of a groundswell of plots by the APC to foist a one party rule in our country by attempting to destabilize the PDP, take over some of our states and legislative seats, all to ensure that there is no strong opposition when they eventually assume power.
“As we speak, APC has resorted to instigating crisis, inciting the people while mobilizing resources to arm-twist the judiciary ostensibly to torpedo the will of the people in these states.
“In particular, our findings show that in Delta, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states, the APC machinery is working round the clock to ensure that it upturned the victory of the PDP and the mandate freely given to us by the people in these states.
“We are aware of the clandestine moves by the APC to procure and compromise some stakeholders in the elections including INEC and security personnel to bear false witness and doctor electoral materials against the PDP at the tribunal.
Speaking further ,Metuh said “This is in addition to sponsoring negative publications in some section of the media, laced with false claims and distortion of election figures to suit their nefarious plans of swaying public opinion and the course of justice against our party in these states.
“We know that the main of aim behind APC’s desperation to take over these three states is their belief that they are strategic to the PDP and that taking them away will further weaken and undermine our party and accelerate the quest for a one-party state in our country.
The PDP spokesman said it his party “will not accept any attempt by anybody whatsoever, especially the APC to manipulate the process and rob us of our clear victories in these states or any other state for that matter.
“The APC must not in anyway take our civility driven by patriotic zeal for peace, unity and harmony in the country for granted. We want to state categorically that our members across the country are able, willing and ready to defend our mandate in these states using all available instruments within the ambit of the law
“As a party that has made history by nurturing democracy for 16 years, and elevating it to a standard appreciated by the democratic community world over, we cannot fold our hands and .watch while the gains are being undermined by the APC and its agents.
“It is on this note that the PDP draws the attention of the judiciary, INEC and security authorities to the heinous scheme by the APC to drag their institution and men into these criminal plots. In view of the above therefore, we urge these institutions to closely monitor its officials involved in the elections and do every thing within the law to safeguard their reputation against the acts of a few greedy and dubious individuals.
He also said “the APC should be held responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Rivers, Delta and Akwa-Ibom states, we charge the people not to relent but to stand up and defend their mandates and use all means allowed by the law to ensure that their will expressed through the ballot box is not thwarted by desperate and greedy enemies of democracy.
