ELECTION: PDP blames APC for killings, violence, decries militarisation of polls

(The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the killing of Nigerians and violence that marred the March 9, 2019 governorship and state assembly elections.

The opposition party also condemned the heavy militarization of the poll, saying the development was due to the desperation of the APC.

Reports of deaths, ballot box snatching, both by thugs and security operatives, and other forms of electoral irregularities have continued to trail the conduct of the election across the country.

In a statement in response to the development by its spokesman, the PDP condemned what happened during the polls.

It said, “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorize opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians.

“This resort to bloodletting, violence and official high handedness by the APC in our electoral process has further confirmed that this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

“The PDP notes that never in the history of our nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections by the Buhari Presidency and the APC.

“In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

“In Rivers State, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results. The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

“In Imo State, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

“In Ebonyi State, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party do not have any foothold in the state.

“In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments of Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area.

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“In many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected area.”

Nothing that APC plan is to derail Nigeria’s hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on the nation, the PDP vowed never to allow that happen.

“We are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy,” PDP said.

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