Barely one week to the Kogi governorship election, one of the top contesting political parties, the PDP, is raising an alarm over what it calls plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Presidency to rig the elections in favour of the APC.
In an 11-paragraph press release signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP says it has incontrovertible records of secret meeting between the Presidency and the INEC leadership as well as some top security officers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on arrangements to take over Kogi State.
According to the PDP “we alert all to be aware of this planned coup against democracy, by the new sheriff, who though, being the biggest beneficiary of free and fair elections in the history of Nigeria, is now out to corrupt the electoral system.”
The statement further read, “Intelligence information available to us shows that at the meeting with the new INEC leadership under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission was given orders regarding the posting of compromised personnel to strategic areas in the state to manipulate the card readers as well as the actual voting process in favour of the APC, with assurance of adequate protection by government security agencies, particularly the Directorate of State Services (DSS).”
They also alleged that an expected visit of President Buhari to Kogi State to endorse the APC candidate, Audu Abubakar, is part of the rigging process.
The party, however, added that it was sure of the support of the people of Kogi State and their preference for the PDP and its candidate, Governor Idris Wada and that they would not accept any results that do not reflect their wishes and aspirations at the poll.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Presidency has denied holding any secret meetings on the Kogi elections.
The President’s assistant on Public Affairs, Mr Garba Shehu, told Channels Television on Sunday evening that the PDP is merely afraid of its shadows.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the claims made by the PDP, explaining that the President remains committed to free and fair elections.
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