By Dayo Omoogun
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised an alarm saying that the All Progressives Congress APC has perfected
a plan to sponsor some political groups to raise legal roadblocks with a view to scuttle the September 19 Edo state governorship election, “following APCs realization that there is no way it can win in the election.
The allegation was made by Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary at a press conference held over the weekend in Abuja.
The ploy according to the PDP is to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.
The aim of the APC is to use the political groups to drag in the judiciary, trigger constitutional crisis in Edo state, the Niger Delta region and the nation at large and blame it on the court.
The party, however, cited section 87(10) (11) of the Electoral Act as having put paid to such gimmicks having prohibited the courts from restraining the conduct of party primaries and general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This section of the Electoral Act has put paid to situations in the past, where groups or individuals who have no real stake in elections were used as cannon fodders by selfish individuals and groups to manipulate the courts and frustrate electoral process against the interest of the people.
“The APCs calculation is a reenactment of a similar judicial quagmire that led to the scuttling of the 1993 general election, a development that led to a serious national crisis that almost destroyed the corporate existence of our country.
“The PDP stands with the people of Edo state in condemning this plot by the APC to derail the democratic order, scuttle the governorship election, create an emergency situation, forcefully seize power and foist an undemocratic and oppressive regime in Edo state.
“Our party, therefore, cautions such unpatriotic persons to note that the people of Edo state are ready to go to the poll on September 19 and will vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the schedule of election or attempt a forceful takeover of their state.
The party also disclosed that it has information about the APCs plan to militarize the elections in order to intimidate the people from voting for their chosen candidates and thereby subvert the will of people
“Similarly, our Party has been informed of the drafting of Soldiers to the residence of the sacked former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in GRA Benin and Iyamho.
“Our Party holds that it is indecorous, shameful and sinful on the part of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to leave the flanks of our people in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kogi open to bandits while Soldiers are guarding the residence of suspended Oshiomhole just to enable him to perpetrate electoral heist.
The party called on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief to immediately withdraw the troops from Oshiomhole”s residence and deploy them to their constitutional duty post in the interest of our nation.
While declaring the preparedness of the party and its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, for the election, the PDP counseled the APC to stop wasting its time in the court and take steps to withdraw from the contest if it is not ready to face the crushing defeat that awaits it and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu on September 19.