The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, said that the people of Edo State would resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the state governorship election schedule for September 19.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, alleged that there were plots by certain interests to use frivolous lawsuits to scuttle the scheduled date.
“The PDP revealed that the said interests masquerading through certain political groups were seeking to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.
“Nigerians are already aware that section 87(10) (11) of the Electoral Act, clearly prohibits the courts from restraining the conduct of party primaries and general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This section of the Electoral Act has put paid to situations in the past, where groups or individuals who have no real stake in elections were used as canon fodders by selfish individuals and groups to manipulate the courts and frustrate electoral process against the interest of the people,’’ Ologbondiyan said.
He said that the PDP stood with the people of Edo State in condemning the plot to derail the democratic order, scuttle the governorship election and create an emergency situation in the state.
“Our party, therefore, cautions such unpatriotic persons to note that the people of Edo state are ready to go to the poll on Sept. 19 and will vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the schedule of election or attempt a forceful takeover of their state.’’
Ologbondiyan also alleged that the PDP had been informed of the drafting of soldiers to the residence of an APC chieftain in GRA Benin and Iyamho, ahead of the state election.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw the alleged deployed troops to their constitutional duty posts in the interest of Nigeria.
The PDP spokesman also condemned the fire incidence at INEC head office in Akure, Ondo state.
He said that the destruction of INEC sensitive equipment was to frustrate the conduct of credible, free and fair governorship election in the state.
Ologbondiyan alleged that it was not by accident that the fire occurred in no other place than the facility where sensitive materials, such as card readers, were stored.
He recalled that the fire incident led to the destruction of no fewer than 5,141 card readers meant for the election.
He called on security agents to prevent any further attacks on other INEC facilities in the state to cripple the commission and impede the conduct of a credible poll.
Ologbondiyan said that the PDP would intensely monitor the process of replacement of the burnt card readers by INEC.
This, according to him, is to ensure that those behind any plan do not succeed in their plots to manipulate the programming of the new card readers to suit their plots of compromising sensitive data in the existing voters’ register in Ondo State.
Meanwhile, Edo State PDP, on Sunday, said the people of the state would determine who governs them for the next four years with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Mr Chris Nehikhare, Chairman, Publicity and Media Committee, Edo governorship campaign council, said this during the party’s weekly media briefing to appraise the party’s campaign.
Nehikhare said that Edo was a proud race which could not be colonised by anybody or coerced into going against their convictions.
He noted that in view of this, Edo people would resist every form of intimidation on September 19, as well any other template other than their PVCs to determine the governor.
He stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must, therefore, abide by their oath of office and be neutral, transparent, fair and honest.
Nehikhare appreciated PDP supporters across the state as well as residents of the state for their support, requests and demands.
He noted that the requests were the government responsibilities, and that the Obaseki-led administration was up to the task.
He maintained that although the party had taken the election very seriously it was, however, not a do or die for the PDP candidate.
He appealed to the people of the state not to indulge in violence, and the party’s supporters not to retaliate any act of violence.
Nehikhare said it was shameful that some persons were propagating the template of vote buying and rigging that should best be left to the relics of Nigeria’s political history.
He noted: “We are sure that the resort to this despicable tactic is because the party is certain of defeat at the poll and is only trying to save face.
“The people have been unanimous in their support for the candidate of the PDP and no matter the underhand tactic the will of the people must surely prevail.”
