Elections: PDP’s plot to unleash violence thwarted, says APC

Sunday, November 17, 2019 9:40 pm

Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole: APC National Chairman

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of importing thugs into Bayelsa and Kogi State few days before last Saturday’s election.

The party which made the accusation in a statement released by Lanre Isa Onilu, its spokesperson on Sunday however hailed security agencies for the security arrangements put in place which according to its, thwarted the plan to use violence to stop the elections from holding.

“We are aware of several hoodlums brought into Kogi State from Osun and Oyo States few days before the elections, just as we monitored the grand preparation to unleash violence in Bayelsa State.

“We are delighted that the forces of darkness have failed. The subterfuge deployed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election in both states, including the Kogi West senatorial rerun election was thwarted.

The party added that because it was sure of securing the majority votes for the two governorship seats and the Kogi West senatorial seat, it knew that it must ensure a peaceful atmosphere for voters to freely turn out and exercise their franchise.

“As expected, not being in the tradition of PDP to thrive under orderly and credible electoral process, they did their best to discredit the process. We are glad that the voting processes came to a successful end in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

“The Party thanks security agencies and other officials who did their best to minimize the impact of the PDP thugs whose sole agenda was to create chaos and scare voters from coming out to vote. Of course, the PDP did not achieve their objective of winning through violence.

“We note the effort by the PDP to employ their usual manipulation through ballot box snatching, massive thumb printing of ballot papers and vote buying. We also note for instance the video now in circulation of self-help ballot paper thumb printing at the polling unit of the PDP governorshop candidate, Musa Wada and vote buying by the PDP’s Senatorial candidate, Dino Melaye.

“We thank all our supporters for standing their ground to protect the ballot and ensure credibility of the electoral process. While we wait for the collation process to complete and for the final results to be announced, we urge our members in both states to remain calm and peaceful.”