…Says act signals end of APC shenanigans
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Nigerians, particularly the Civil Society Organizations for sustaining the pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to finally assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after several years of delay.
The party also praised the courage of PDP and other opposition party members in the National Assembly for standing their ground on the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which among other things provided for the electronic transmission of election results directly from the polling units.
The leading opposition party in a statement on Friday in Abuja signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba argued that “the newly signed Electoral Act is a death knell for the All Progressives Congress (APC) which thrives in manipulations, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing and alteration of election results at the collation centers against the expressed will of the people”.
He said that the politics surrounding the bill confirms that President Buhari and the APC had come to their wits end and bowed to the sustained pressure from the PDP and Nigerians for the entrenchment of processes that can guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.
“The victory by Nigerians in resisting the APC and compelling President Buhari to sign the new Electoral Act clearly signposts the inevitable triumph of the will and aspiration of the people to kick out the APC through a process that ensures that votes cast at the polling units count”.
The PDP called on Nigerians not to rest on their oars but to further strengthen their resolve by rallying themselves to take charge of their polling units and ensure that their votes are transparently counted and transmitted in the 2023 general elections.
“Nigerians must note that the APC in its desperation will not give up easily but attempt to device other means to frustrate credible elections in the country.
“Our Party therefore charges Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be at alert and resist all shenanigans of the APC ahead of the 2023 elections”.
While commending the International Community for standing on the side of democracy in Nigeria, the PDP counseled President Buhari to further redeem his image by reining in his party members who according to the opposition party are reportedly seeking to deploy the instrumentality of violence to frustrate the efforts for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
Meanwhile, former Vice President, also through his verified Twitter handle @Atiku called on the electoral umpire to roll out election timetable for time execution of the 2023 general election.
“Now that the legal framework for the 2023 elections is in place following President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Electoral Bill, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to roll-out the election guidelines in earnest so that the political parties and Nigerians can fully commence the journey to choose their leaders in 2023.
“I wish to acknowledge the work of the legislature in bringing this law with new innovations into fruition. I also pay tribute to the nudge of the civil society and patriotic Nigerians in making this brand new Electoral Act a reality” the Waziri Adamawa stated.
