‘Operation Python Dance’, plot to intimidate voters, rig 2019 elections —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has described the planned nationwide military, Egwu Eke III also known as Pyrton Dance as a plot to intimidate voters especially in states believed to be dominated by the PDP.

An earlier announcement by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai said the operation would commence from the 1st day of January and last till February 28 to prepare a soft landing for the 2019 general elections.

But the PDP had raised a great opposition to the plan, saying it was not done in the interest of the country but rather to rig the election in favour of the APC.

The National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement on Saturday said it had information that the Federal Government was working with top officials of INEC to use the military to achieve its dubius agenda

The media spokesman said, “Our investigation shows that part of the plot is to use the military operation as a subterfuge to unleash heavy security presence to intimidate, harass and instil fear in voters in PDP strongholds across the country and pave the way for the allocation of fictitious votes to President Buhari and the APC.

“Further investigation revealed that agents of the Buhari Presidency are working in cohort with some compromised top officials of the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission to use soldiers to provide cover for diversion of electoral materials, as well as aid APC agents in their plan to unleash violence and disrupt the electoral process in areas where the PDP is winning.

“In spanning the military operation to February 28, 2019, the Buhari Presidency betrayed its anticipation of public rejection or violence, which can only come when a result that does not reflect the actual wish of the people is announced.”

While questioning the motive for setting up the operation, Ologbondiyan, said the democratic atmosphere in the country did not necessitate the planned action, calling it “militarization of our electoral process.”

Read also: Army denies Boko Haram takeover of Baga, plans nationwide Operation Python Dance

He therefore rejected the military exercise, saying that President Buhari holds it a duty to ensure Nigerians elect a new President in the forthcoming election.

“The PDP PCO, therefore, rejects this deliberate attempt by the Buhari Presidency to set our military on a collision course with Nigerians, bearing in mind the collateral damage that usually occurs whenever the civilian population clashes with military.

“Our nation is a democratic state and we are not in a state of emergency that requires the militarization of our electoral process.

“Our military, which is cherished by Nigerians, should, therefore, foreclose any attempt by the Buhari Presidency to use it to set our country on fire,” he said.

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