PDP raises alarm over alleged plot to influence tribunal judgement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that there is a plot to influence the outcome of the petitions before the presidential election petition tribunal.

Addressing a media conference on Sunday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, claimed that the plot is being orchestrated by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP spokesperson however provided no evidence to support the allegations.

The opposition party alleged that “APC leaders” are intimidating, harassing, and threatening Nigerian youths and eminent personalities for speaking out against the potential outcome of the presidential election.

“There are apprehensions in the public space, having regards to the reputation of certain individuals within the highest level of the APC who have demonstrated capacity and proclivity to compromise democratic institutions in our country,” the PDP spokesperson said.

“More alarming are allegations in the public space of attempts by certain APC leaders to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement and to orchestrate trumped-up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers.

“The PDP calls on the APC and its leaders to immediately come clean and publicly address Nigerians and the world on these disturbing allegations and revelations which are already in the public domain.

“Further to this is the provocative resort by the APC and its leaders to threaten Nigerians with treason for speaking out against the manipulations of our democratic processes by the APC.”

The PDP alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is “complicit” by attempting to impede its petition.

“It is instructive for INEC and the APC to note that the tribunal hearing is part of the electoral process. The APC and INEC are, therefore, advised to halt further steps to hinder the ability of the presidential election petition tribunal to dispense justice in the matter in accordance with the law,” Ologunagba said.

“The PDP, therefore, restates its call on the judiciary to resist and insulate itself from the alleged and reported antics of the APC in the discharge of its constitutional duties as an independent and impartial arbiter in the pending petition before the presidential election petition tribunal.”