PDP Alleges Plot By APC To Influence Outcome Of Presidential Election Petition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to influence the outcome of the presidential election petition currently pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The Appeal tribunal will this Monday, begin hearing the petitions filed the PDP candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart Mr. Peter Obi, challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as president-elect by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference on Sunday, recalled that Tinubu, at the commissioning of some judiciary projects in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last week, allegedly made some comments, which the party considered attempt “to corrupt, cultivate and patronise the judiciary.”

Ologunagba further alleged of attempts by unnamed APC leaders to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement, as well as to raise trumped up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers.

He called on the judiciary to resist attempt by the ruling party to compromise it, but to discharge its constitutional duties “as independent and impartial arbiter in the pending petition before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”

The PDP spokesperson noted that majority of Nigerians are calling for the review of the February 25 “presidential election because it was marred by wide-spread manipulations, open alteration of genuine election results from the polling units, allocation of fictitious figures to the APC and brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC Manual and Guidelines by INEC itself in its declaration of a winner of the election.”

He condemned INEC’s response to the petitions before the tribunal, requesting that the petitions should be dismissed, and said it was further evidence of the complicity, corruption and compromise of INEC by the APC.

“It is instructive for INEC and the APC to note that the tribunal hearing is part of the electoral process.

“The APC and INEC are therefore advised to halt further steps to hinder the ability of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dispense justice in the matter in accordance with the law.

“It is imperative to state that the reckless violation by INEC of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC guidelines and manual in the 2023 presidential election portend grave consequences to our democracy and political stability as a country,” he stated.

Ologunagba added that the only way to guarantee peace, unity and stability of the country is for the will of the people as expressed at the polling units in the February 25 presidential election to be respected.

He expressed PDP’s confident in the ability of the judiciary to discharge its constitutional duties.

The PDP spokesperson described as provocative, the resort by the APC and its leaders to threaten Nigerians with treason for speaking out against the alleged manipulations of the democratic processes by the party.

He also condemned “the recent intimidation, harassment, threats and vicious attacks by APC leaders against Nigerian youths and eminent Nigerian personalities for speaking out against APC’s planned moves to install a government that does not enjoy the mandate of majority of Nigerians as expressed at the polling units.

“The alleged planned onslaught by APC leaders on eminent Nigerians and our democratic institutions, including the judiciary, stems from APC’s apprehensions given the weight of evidence against it as well as the continuing refusal by majority of Nigerians to accept the outcome of the flawed Presidential election.”
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