PDP plotting to declare Atiku winner of election, says APC

•Party seeks Buba Galadima’s arrest 
•’Plot to alter S’East, S’South results uncovered’

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other relevant security agencies to activate the provisions of the law on non-official declaration of results.

It alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents have completed plans to declare Atiku Abubakar as the winner of Saturday’s presidential election without waiting for INEC.

The Council, in a statement by its spokesman, Festus Keyamo, said the opposition plans to create confusion that would trigger pockets of protests by hired thugs across the country in other to attract the sympathy of the international community.

Keyamo said, as part of the plot, a video recording has already been made by one of the PDP campaign spokespersons, Buba Galadima, announcing Atiku as the winner of the election.

Calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Galadima, the APC campaign council urged Atiku to say something on the alleged video by Galadima.

Also yesterday, the Central Working Committee of APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team raised the alarm over alleged plans by the opposition to instigate violence in the Southeast and Southsouth so as to use that as cover to alter the election result figures from the two geo-political zones.

Keyamo’s statement reads: “Devastated by authentic results filtering out of polling units nationwide, our usual sources within the camp of the PDP have informed us that an emergency meeting of the main opposition party has been summoned for today somewhere in Abuja.

“Top on the agenda of the PDP is to activate the last strand of their Dubai strategies that have since collapsed like a pack of cards: they plan to release fake results of the presidential selection later today or early Monday morning that they claim to have compiled themselves.

“Our information is that they aim to create crises and confusion that will lead to Atiku claiming victory in a day or two from today ahead of the official announcement of the results by INEC. Then, what would follow will be some carefully choreographed protests by pockets of hoodlums in some parts of the country. The ultimate aim is to curry the sympathy of our foreign friends and push us to the Venezuela situation.

“Our call is, therefore, to INEC, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and all law-enforcement agencies to continually warn the PDP and all their surrogates like the amorphous Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and their likes that anyone, who flouts the law on announcement of official results will be made to face the law. Opposition does not confer immunity on anyone to flout the law.

“In preparation for this reckless move, some PDP social media agents are already flying some kites online as to the number of states allegedly ‘won’ by PDP. In fact, Galadima, an official spokesperson for Atiku, has made a short video announcing PDP as the ‘winner’ of the presidential election.

“As an official spokesperson, he is clearly acting on behalf of Atiku and on his instruction. We, therefore call for the immediate arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Galadima in this regard. The world is watching and waiting on Atiku to say something on the video by Galadima.

“Consequently, we urge all well-meaning Nigerians, the international community and even reasonable members of the opposition not to be bought by these cheap antics of the PDP. Let’s restrain our wards from being used by these unscrupulous elements. Nigeria will continue to exist after this election.”

Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, chairman of the campaign committee, Gen. Buba Marwa, called on security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be vigilant and prevent such moves.

He said: “We will like to draw attention to the fact that there are plans afoot for massive manipulation of results by the opposition in the Southeast and Southsouth through the unleashing of violence from tonight onwards with a view to altering election results by using total registered voters instead of accredited voters to change the final result figures.

“We, therefore, urge security agencies and INEC to monitor this information very closely and act swiftly to forestall this nefarious intention. As we await the final outcome that will surely confirm the re-election of President Buhari, let us all keep our eyes on the ball, follow the collation process closely and remain steadfast until the whole exercise is concluded in our favour.”

Expressing optimism that the final results will favour President Buhari and the APC, Marwa hailed the campaign team to the President, his wife and other party leaders for their support and encouragement throughout the duration of the campaign.

He added: “While we await the verdict of history, may I on behalf of the Central Working Committee of our campaign team thank our members, coordinators and full structures, canvassers, door-to-door mobilisers and millions of patriots for their uncommon commitment and efforts towards the success of the President Muhammadu Buhari re-election project. I want to put it on record that your selfless labour has made all the difference in the outcome of the election, which no doubt will be in our favour by the grace of God.