PDP Governors’ Outbursts On Tribunal Rulings Is Silly – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the coun­try is still recovering from the 16 years of Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) rule, describing as hogwash last week’s outburst of PDP’s Governors’ Forum that the nullification of elections of its governors was a plot by the APC to take control of “oil-producing states by all means necessary.”

In a statement quoting the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the APC dismissed the statements credited to the PDP governors as “clannish” and “sectional”.

According to him; “the APC and indeed Nigerians, are increasingly worried by the clannish and sectional posi­tions being canvassed by the PDP governors. We reject the PDP governors’ attempt to polarise the country along oil-producing and non-producing lines.

“All geo-political regions of the country are important and equal partners in progress in efforts by the APC and Buhari administration to return Nigeria to its respected po­sition in the Comity of Nations.”

He claimed that “during the 2015 general elections, in many parts of the South-South, particularly Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Nigerians and the international community watched in horror how the PDP used a combination of se­curity operatives, thugs and party agents to rig elections against the popular will of the electorate.

“Nigerians are still recovering from the last 16 years of locust under the PDP. We invite the PDP to support current efforts aimed at social, economic and institutional reforms. Change has come!”, he noted.

While dwelling on the court/tribunal decisions on Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba state elections, Buni said, “the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

“Recent court decisions in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba states are not partisan, but simply a confirmation of PDP’s brazen election malpractices, manipulation and in­timidation perpetrated during the 2015 general elections. We advise the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.

“The APC urges Nigerians, and indeed members of the international community who see the merit in efforts to correct Nigeria’s electoral systems, not to be distracted by this ploy by the PDP to discredit judicial efforts.

“PDP governors’ allegation that APC is bent on foisting a one-party state in Nigeria is yet another silly talk. INEC is the only constitutional body empowered to register and deregister political parties. The PDP fears are understand­able owing to their growing unpopularity after the last 16 years of maladministration and looting which have re­sulted in the country’s economic ruin by consecutive PDP governments,” APC noted.