By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Barley five days to the Edo state governorship election, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged plots by certain interests in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use a lawsuit to scuttle the September 19 Edo state governorship election.
The party in press conference by the Secretary of the Publicity Subcommittee, Edo state governorship election campaign council, Kola Ologbomdiyan, on Sunday in Abuja, disclosed that some interest in APC are seeking to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.
Quoting some sections of the constitution to substantiate the illegality of such move Ologbondiyan said, “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”.
He pointed out that the aim of the APC is to use political pressure groups and drag in the judiciary, trigger constitutional crisis in the state and the nation at large and blame it on the court.
“The APC’s calculation is a re enactment of similar judicial quagmire that led to the scuttling of the 1993 general election, a development that led to a serious national crisis that almost destroyed the corporate existence of our country” he said.
The PDP condemned the plot to derail the democratic order, scuttle the governorship election, create an emergency situation, forcefully seize power and foist an undemocratic and oppressive regime in Edo state.
The party cautioned such unpatriotic persons to note that the people of Edo state are ready to go to the poll and will vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the schedule of election or attempt a forceful takeover of the state.
Similarly, the party called on the federal government to immediately dismantle the special military team drafted to the residence of the former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole ,in GRA Benin and Iyamho.
The party said that it is indecorous, shameful and sinful on the part of the Buhari Presidency to leave the flanks of Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kogi open to bandits and Boko Haram attack while soldiers are guarding the residence of Oshiomhole to enable him perpetrate electoral heist.
