‘Protect INEC facilities from APC’ — PDP tells security agencies

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked security agencies to protect the facilities and equipment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, alleged that there is a plot by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to attack some equipment of INEC, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The opposition party claimed that the attack is being orchestrated to “frustrate” INEC’s ability to conduct the elections.

“Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP charges security agencies to beef up security around the offices and facilities of INEC from any attacks by the sinking APC,” the statement reads.

“The PDP’s position is coming against the background of apprehensions in the public space of alleged plots by certain APC interests to launch a coordinated attack on INEC offices and facilities in various parts of the country to destroy the Commission’s BVAS machines to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections.

“Credible information available to our Party indicates that the said APC interests which are bent on scuttling the elections to avoid a humiliating defeat are allegedly mobilizing thugs to launch fresh attacks on INEC offices and its facilities where BVAS machines are located.

“Some prominent APC leaders including certain APC governors, having failed in their designs to have the elections postponed and having also been resisted in their plot to use their orchestrated cash scarcity to destabilize the nation, are now allegedly plotting to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections by destroying the BVAS machines.

“These APC leaders and their apologists have evidently revealed themselves as clear and present threat not only to the electoral process but also to our corporate existence as a nation and must be resisted by all.

“The PDP, therefore, charges the security agencies to take all necessary steps to provide adequate protection for INEC facilities, equipment and personnel before, during and after the elections.”

The PDP asked President Muhammadu Buhari “to put all measures in place for free, fair, transparent and credible elections in keeping with his assurances to Nigerians and the international community”.

“The APC and the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign must accept the fact that Nigerians will never be deterred from their resolve to vote in the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to rebuild our nation from the disastrous misrule of the APC,” the PDP added.