By Johnson Eyiangho & Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday alerted Nigerians to alleged plans by the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to deploy violence and snatch power in the 2023 general election.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon.

Ologunagba alleged that Tinubu, had in a closed-door meeting in London earlier in the month (December), declared to his members that “political power is not going to be served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte.

He said in response to the directive, APC leaders and members had now activated plots to derail the electoral process through orchestrated violent attacks in various states of the country aimed to trigger a nationwide security emergency situation, instill fear and make it appear unconducive to conduct elections.

Ologunagba, therefore called on the security agencies to take immediate steps to probe and stop the APC on its plot to derail the democratic process.

According to him, the design is to create tension across the country to validate a narrative that elections cannot hold, then orchestrate a Constitutional crisis with a view to justifying a shifting of the elections and perpetuate certain APC elements in office beyond May 29, 2023.

“Part of the plot is the current attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in various parts of the country as witnessed in Ogun, Osun and Imo states where sections critical to the conduct of elections particularly those connected to the collection of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were targeted and destroyed.

“Also, our party has been made aware of plans by the APC to orchestrate attacks in other states particularly Kogi and Delta; some states of the South East as well as parts of the North with the view to subverting the electoral process in as many states as possible,” he said.

Ologunagba said that intelligence available to the PDP indicated that the attack on INEC facilities was to prevent newly registered voters from collecting their PVCs; destroy the PVC’s so that they would not be available for collection in INEC offices, and thirdly, destroy INEC equipment and cripple its capacity to conduct elections.

“In addition, the APC has introduced a very disturbing dimension of “purchasing” PVCs from unsuspecting Nigerians through monetary inducement masquerading as empowerment programmes,” he said.

The PDP scribe said it was apparent and disturbing that the APC Presidential Candidate had not issued any caution so far against the many acts of violence linked to members of his party, adding that his body language and comments suggested the condoning of the ongoing violence on the nation’s electoral process.

“Of course, the London meeting where Asiwaju Tinubu directed his party members to unleash violence on Nigerians was a closed-door event which inadvertently leaked to the public. The aim of the APC was to hit our nation with violence and mislead security agencies to direct their investigation on criminal elements and social restiveness, instead of the real culprit, the APC,” he said.

The PDP spokesman said the alarm raised by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on the several attacks on INEC’s facilities as widely reported in the media further confirmed PDP’s fears.

“If these attacks go into January and February, it may be difficult for us to recover from these attacks. This is because if you look at Section 134 of the Constitution, it has threshold that a candidate must meet before that candidate can be declared winner of any election,” the PDP spokesman said.

He called on the International Community to impose strict sanctions including travel restrictions on APC leaders found culpable of instigating and encouraging violence in the electoral process.

“The choice of who becomes the President of Nigeria rests on the Will of the people through the free exercise of their votes and the APC Presidential candidate should come to terms with the resolve of Nigerians to vote in the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar as the next President.

“We, therefore, call on Nigerians not to succumb to the proclivities of the APC but remain resolute in defending our democratic process and rallying with the PDP in our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the suffocating government of the APC,” e said.

APC Denies Bribery Allegation against Party’s Candidate

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday disclosed that it would be unfair for anybody to label the act of compassion shown by its flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, as bribery.

Tinubu and Shettima were captured in a two-minute video on Tuesday doling crispy naira notes to a physically challenged man at his meeting with people with disabilities in Abuja.

The video clip went viral and was circulated all over social media with critics and opposition members including Reno Omokri, former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan and Emeka Obasi, media aide to Labour Party presidential candidate, describing it as a brazen act of corruption.

But reacting to the drama, the Deputy Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima PCC, Hannatu Musawa, yesterday absolved his principal of any wrongdoing.

“Misrepresentation of a harmless video I, Hannatu Musa Musawa, posted of my principals giving alms and charity to a poor and disabled elderly gentleman.”

A livid Musawa expressed concerns that rather praise the act of kindness shown by Tinubu and Shetima towards a disabled man in need, she was stunned to discover that the narration was spun by the opposition to reflect an act of bribery and corruption.

The statement read, “My attention has been drawn to the dishonest, erroneous and incorrect narrative spun by unctuous, dissipated, debauched and desperate elements within the opposition to turn a perfectly innocent video I posted of a kind act I witnessed my Principals carrying out into something mendacious and devious.

“A few days ago I attended a gathering with the Presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shetima where they had a robust engagement with persons with disability. During the event, our principals had the opportunity to interact with a poor and disabled elderly gentleman. Borne purely out of compassion, my principals spoke to this gentleman, listened to him and performed the tenant of charity and alms giving towards him.

“As I watched this tender moment between the three men, I wanted to capture it and show the world the empathy that organically runs through the veins of my principals, and that raw spirit of charity that they both imbibe.”

While stating the clip wasn’t shared out in error, the legal icon disclosed that she shared the viral video to tell a compassionate and compelling story of leadership as shown by her principals.

Musawa noted that while it is unfortunate that the opposition refuses to issue-based campaign and manifestos, it is clear that they are grasping at straws and adopting extreme methods to stay relevant.

“I posted the video, not out of mistake, but with the intention of telling the compassionate story of the empathetic leadership that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported by Alhaji Kashim Shetima will surely give to Nigeria after they emerge victorious in the upc

“As I watch the negative chronicle being spun by the opposition Svengali’s, trying to enforce a specific negative narrative on the public, it is clear that the falsehood being spread stems from the devious imagination and wicked machinations of a desperate and self combusting opposition.

“I would have dismissed the musings as the rantings of an inconsequential opposition. However, I am compelled to make this response because of innocent Nigerians that may be misled by such devious rhetoric,” she stated.

Presidency Refutes Claims Buhari Refuses to Campaign for Tinubu

The Presidency, yesterday disputed news making the rounds in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari does not support the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general elections.

The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, assured APC and its candidates in the elections next year that he is ready at all times to campaign for the Presidential Candidate and all party candidates with “full energy and conviction.”

According to the Presidency, this is to dispel expressed concerns in certain quarters that the President has not featured in campaigns since the national launch in Jos, Plateau State and to stress that while he remains committed to party politics, the functions and duties of the President will equally be upheld at times.

Speaking to the Nigerian community in Washington DC in the course of his recent visit to the United States, President Buhari stressed what he said all the time that he is ready to campaign for the party’s victory in the general elections next year.

The President noted that the APC campaigns have so far been the most aggressive in recent history. “They have been impressive and of a high voltage,” compared to the opposition that seems to be playing catch-up.

He expressed strong optimism that the party will win all the elections fairly and squarely.

Vote for Candidate with Mental, Physical Energy, Peter Obi Advises Electorate

Published on December 21, 2022By Lovina Anthony

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi has said Nigeria is in dire need of a president who has the necessary mental, physical energy and capacity to take it out of the quagmire.

He noted that the people have moved beyond voting on sentiments based on religion, state of origin or entitlement mentality.

Addressing a crowd in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the presidential candidate said that old politicians have continued to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines for their selfish interest saying that hunger and hardship do not recognize ethnicity and religion.

Obi who expressed hope that Nigeria will be great again irrespective of what it is currently facing said his first priority when elected will be to unite the country and restore peace.

He said he will ensure that the educational system and the currency are strengthened as well as ensure an increase in the manufacturing and production capacity of the country.

“[The] 2023 elections will be the turn of the people to elect who will be their leaders and not for any candidate’s turn; it is not going to be by tribe, religion because poverty and hardship do not recognize such things. Rather people should consider competence, capability and capacity. It is going to be based on whoever has the required mental and physical energy and capacity,” he said.

Obi also promised to ensure the full operations of the ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport and turn Akwa Ibom into an export processing centre if elected the next president of Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure lauded the people for coming out en masse to support the party’s presidential candidate promising that Obi will never betray their trust if elected.

Attributing the insecurity, and poverty in the country to bad leadership, Abure urged the people not to vote for those who lack the capacity to address the problems in Nigeria and who do not have their interests at heart.