PDP threatens to boycott Kogi, Bayelsa polls

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to boycott the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states if they are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under its new acting chairman, Mrs. Amina Zakari.

INEC has declared November 21 for governorship election in Kogi State and December 5 as date for governorship election in Bayelsa State but the opposition party, which described Zakari as “daughter of the president,” said there was nowhere in the world where the chairman of an electoral commission has a relationship with the president of the country.

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, disclosed the position of the party when he led a delegation on separate visits to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI).

“It would be very difficult for the PDP to accept the result of any election conducted by INEC if Amina Zakari continues to be chairperson of the commission,” he said.

According to him, besides the emergence of Zakari as acting INEC chairman, the APC-led federal government had been alleged to be prodding the interference of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawan Daura, in the election tribunals.

Read also: Row over Zakari, new INEC boss

Similarly, Metuh said the travails of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, over his emergence was being orchestrated by the presidency, adding that all pointed to indications of the emergence of an authoritarian regime.

Metuh stated that democracy in the country is on trial and accused the ruling APC and the presidency of intimidation and harassment of PDP officials and elected leaders.

“Democracy is on trial in Nigeria. The APC is engaging in campaign of calumny and witch-hunting of PDP leaders. Government is influencing security agencies to frame elected leaders. We want President Buhari to be fair and father to all Nigerians irrespective of political parties,” Metuh added.

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