Dollar – for -vote: APC raises concern about free, fair elections

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the alleged $3 million dollars per state cash for vote budget by the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) raises fresh concern about the readiness of the party for a free, fair and transparent election.

APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement  in Abuja, said the PDP’s action showed signs of desperation from the party and its “candidate, who has confessed that they are only strong in two of the country’s six geopolitical zones”.

Onilu dismissed insinuations by the PDP that the governing party imported card readers from China to be deployed to the Southsouth and the Southeast.

The statement reads: “The leaked security report of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) plan to deploy $111 million for vote-buying across the states under the pretence of “logistics” during the general elections raises new fears, ahead of the forthcoming polls.

“It is now clear that the PDP has no plans to win the elections through legitimate votes, but through illegally procured votes.

“Again, in the aftermath of the configured card readers recently recovered from PDP agents in some states, the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has gone to town with face-saving conspiracies that the APC has imported slow-working card readers from China, which will be deployed to the Southsouth and Southeast, which Atiku considers his ‘stronghold’.

“Atiku also alleges a plan to shut down communication on election day. How illogical that a party that is in a contest with clear superior numerical support would shut down communication on election day. Will the communication shutdown affect only the PDP while leaving APC supporters and agents? Nigerians can see through the infantile lies.”

The party’s spokesman added: “Nigerians will recall that the APC had earlier reported the PDP’s plot before last Saturday’s postponed elections. The recent arrest of several armed PDP political thugs and recovery of INEC card readers and arms from PDP agents in some states points directly to the PDP’s plan as revealed by the security report.

‘Atiku has called on the President to retract his instruction to security agencies regarding violence, ballot box thieves, and other electoral malpractices. The question is how such instruction disturbs anyone that is truly interested in free, fair and credible elections.

“We reiterate the resolution of the Monday’s meeting of the APC expanded National Caucus, which urged the security agencies to step up their activities by ensuring that all those involved in violence, ballot box snatching, falsification of results, vote-buying and other election illegalities should face the full weight of the law.

“It is a shame that PDP is kicking against this. We are not surprised because PDP has marshalled plans to get to power by all means possible. The option of one man one vote is not on the PDP’s table.

“Atiku has admitted what we already know that he is not popular by claiming he has two geopolitical zones while the APC has the four other geopolitical zones. On Election Day, Atiku and the PDP should prepare for the shock of their lives. The Southsouth and Southeast are not oblivious of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded in the zones under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, compared to the PDP’s wasted years.

“The good people of the Southsouth, Southeast and indeed all the geopolitical zones will speak through their legitimate votes, not the procured ballots planned by the PDP.

“The PDP’s illegal plot requires improved surveillance by our security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and allied agencies to check illicit financial flows and movement in the lead up to and on Election Day.

“On INEC’s part, following the unfortunate last-minute postponement of the election, the electoral body must realise that it has a lot to prove to the Nigerian electorate that it is still able to conduct credible elections. A first step will be that the electoral body identify and change its officers, who have now beyond doubt become partisan and are actively working for partisan interests.”