APC: Those bent on scuttling elections haven’t given up

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says those who are bent on scuttling the general election have not given up despite the proposition of the council of state that the elections should take place as scheduled.

The party was reacting to the call of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly for the delay of the elections and the sack of Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking on Friday, Lai Mohammed, spokesman of APC, stated that the “desperadoes would always fail in their evil machinations, because no power is strong enough to defeat a determined people.”

“The provocative call by the bogus Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly for the postponement of the elections and the arrest of INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega is one of the new antics of the election postponement campaigners,” the party said.

“It is shameful that those who should be working hard to promote peaceful elections as scheduled are the same ones doing everything possible to trigger violence. Those who should ordinarily be seen as elder statesmen have degenerated to dangerous partisans and shameless promoters of a narrow, parochial interest, at the expense of the national interest.

“Who does not know that wherever President Goodluck Jonathan’s interest lies, therein you will find Chief Edwin Clark, whether or not it is in the national interest? Who does not know that the anarchic call by Chief Clark and his cohorts are being made at the behest of a frenzied presidency?”

It also slammed Olisa Metuh, spokesman of PDP, for alleging that the main opposition party was colluding with INEC to disenfranchise PDP supporters in APC controlled states.

“The irresponsible and divisive statement by PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh is another indication that those working hard to sink the elections have not given up, wondering why Metuh will make such an incendiary statement that the APC and INEC are working hand in hand to disenfranchise the supporters of the PDP by making sure they do not get PVCs, without a shred of evidence beyond sheer emotions,” APC said.

“People like Metuh speak just because they could, not because what they say adds any value to purpose democratic governance. Nigerians are undoubtedly confounded that the spokesman of a ruling party will be fanning the embers of ethnic discord, at such a sensitive time like this. There must be a limit to desperation.”

The APC also berated the federal government for “striving to scare voters away from the polling booths during the elections, which is the implication of the intelligence announced by Mike Omeri, the director-general of the national orientation agency and coordination of the national information centre”.

“Saying they got intelligence report that female suicide bombers are planning to attack polling booths during February elections is nothing but scaremongering and wishful thinking. In spite of them, the elections will proceed without violence because Nigerians are ready, willing and able to ensure that,” the party said.

“Omeri, who is serving on the campaign committee of President Jonathan even as he is holding a sensitive national portfolio, should keep his intelligence to himself. No 0ne but his masters will swallow his scaremongering, which is aimed at depopulating polling units during the elections.”

It called on the security agencies to ensure enhanced protection for all the 11 presidential candidates contesting next week’s election, lest anyone exploits the section of the constitution allowing election shift if anything untoward should happen to any of the candidates.

The APC appealed to its members and supporters to remain calm and not to succumb to the antics of those who are bent on precipitating violence before, during and after elections, saying non-violence should be their watchword.