PDP accuses Buhari, APC of plotting to rig poll using soldiers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of plotting to use the military personnel to rig the Kogi State governorship election holding tomorrow, Nov. 21.

The party said it reliably gathered that the military operatives are led by a Colonel, who has been allegedly briefed by the Presidency to work in favour of the APC candidate, a former governor in the state, Abubakar Audu.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, alleged this in a statement on Friday, Nov. 20.

“Available intelligence shows that the deployment to Kogi state, of the Army Colonel, who is a known APC sympathizer is part of the fallout of last week’s secret meeting coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), where orders were issued to clamp-down on PDP members and supporters to pave way for some pliable INEC officials to manipulate the election in favour of the APC'', Metuh said.

He further alleged that some of the compromised soldiers have been stationed in Dekina Local Government Area of the state, which is the home of the incumbent Governor, Idris Wada, as well as the largest PDP stronghold in the state.

Metuh said that the military officers have been "instructed to create panic, strong-arm PDP supporters, frighten and scare away voters, ostensibly to deprive the our party of its expected large votes from the area."

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“We are also aware of how the head of Security of APC candidate’s Campaign Organization, a retired Army General, is coordinating the movement of partisan security operatives into other key local governments, including Igalamela, Ofu, Ankpa and Idah, to harass and frighten PDP supporters and provide a leeway for the APC to manipulate the election.

“The PDP also has information of the copious involvement of a retired police officer, who is working with some men of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) in providing illegal arms, vehicles and cover for APC thugs who have been positioned to attack PDP supporters during the election.

“We find it absolutely shocking that President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government, a huge beneficiary of free, fair and credible election conducted by the PDP, would so early in the day, seek to corrupt the electoral system and willfully attempt to subvert the will of the people.

“The PDP however notes that no amount of force and intimidation can bend the will of the Kogi people from appropriately exercising their franchise and using every means within the law to protect their mandate.

“While we charge our members and the entire people of Kogi state to remain vigilant and continue to assert their constitutional rights and liberty, we also call on the security forces to note that their duty is primarily to the nation and its citizens, and as such must ensure that they do not become tools in the hands of anti-democratic forces seeking to truncate our democracy," the statement read.

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The opposition party has, in the past days, accused the ruling party of several wrongdoings - topping the list is the alleged killer squad it said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has put together to assassinate the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and other notable PDP Chieftains.

The APC had since countered the allegation, describing it as "induced hallucination" of the PDP.