Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday said there will be war in the country if the 2019 presidential election is rigged.
Secondus, who said this in Asaba, Delta State, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government of putting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under pressure to rig the election.
“Today by your mandate, we warn INEC and we believe that there are good people in INEC. We know that government is pressurising INEC to rig this election but if they rig this election, na war them they look for. So if they want peace, make them no rig the election because everybody is ready for this election.
“We also want to advise our security agencies and we know that they are good people, protecting lives and property, which is their primary responsibilities. We believe that they will obey our constitution and not break it like Mr. President that is breaking our constitution. They will obey the constitution and be neutral but if they don’t, if they join hands with INEC to rig the election, wetin them dey look for?
“War,” the people replied.
“Therefore, we advise all Nigerians, on that day on the 16th February, let them come all out to vote and stand by their ballot boxes and vote and defend their votes because all Nigerian votes must count,” he said.
He said that from the way Atiku carried himself during the town hall meeting with Kadaria Ahmed shows that he would be able to govern the nation very well.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described himself as Mr. Restructuring, adding that if not for anything he would complete the 2nd Niger Bridge for his wife, Jennifer.
Atiku, who spoke at the PDP presidential rally in Onitsha, Anambra State, appealed to the electorate to vote all PDP candidates, senators, House of Representatives’ members, and the state Assembly in the coming election, adding, “Everybody must be PDP.”
He explained that “at the palace of the Obi, they said I have to complete the 2nd Niger Bridge, if not for anything, I have to complete it for my wife.
“The Obi said we must construct all the federal roads in the South East, we will do it, Peter Obi will do it. He said we must restructure Nigeria, this one I am Mr. Restructuring, I will do it. Don’t allow anybody to come and deceive you, I know you people are courageous.”
Speaking earlier in Asaba, the former vice president said, “The second Niger Bridge I have to complete it, whether I like it or not. You see, my wife here is from Onitsha, so I have to complete it. They deceived you, we will complete it for you. So I appeal to you to vote PDP all through.”
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed.
He said, “This government has failed, it’s time for us to vote them out and bring in the man that knows the job. Our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is a man that can perform.
“My people of Delta, this is not personal, is about someone who can give you job. Let me tell you one secret, all our youths that are looking for job, government alone cannot give you jobs. You get job when the private sector is booming. The only person that can do this is the candidate we bring here today. He has businesses, he understands the language, if you don’t understand the language you can’t do it.
“Let me tell you something about business people, business people don’t do business in a country where there is no rule of law. And you know these people don’t understand rule of law, but Atiku understands rule of law.
“The only way to get Atiku inside is for you all to come out and vote, vote for PDP. Any vote for the other party is a waste. If you come out and vote nobody will rig us. There is only one man that can provide jobs, unite the country, improve our economy and that man is Atiku Abubakar.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday insisted that the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari was a ploy to cause confusion in the polity and rig the forthcoming presidential election.
It, however, sounded a note of warning that any attempt to rig or manipulate the electoral process would be vehemently resisted by the people of Nigeria.
Speaking with Daily Independent, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said coming at a period when the election was around the corner, Onnoghen’s removal by the Federal Government was a calculated attempt by the ruling APC-led government to cause crisis in the polity and intimidate the judiciary.
He said: “The nation is on the precipice. The PDP as well as our presidential candidate have condemned the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is clear that this was done because of the 2019 elections.
“As far as we are concerned, it is an attempt to subvert our democracy, create crisis and confusion in the judiciary and among the electorate.
“We are convinced beyond doubt that no matter what the Buhari presidency does, no matter the shenanigans that he introduces to the polity, Nigerians have come to a conclusion and resolution that they will vote out President Buhari come February 16.
“On our part, we are ready for the 2019 elections and we are confident that Nigerians are ready to vote our candidate. Any attempt to cause confusion and create division in the nation will be resisted by the people.”
Also, pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Thursday said INEC should ignore calls by some Nigerians that the election be postponed until the crisis that arose through the suspension of Onnoghen is resolved.
In a text message to our correspondent, Yinka Odumakin, the National Publicity Secretary said: “INEC should proceed with the election. We believe the Onnoghen issue will be resolved.
“The executive has acted in bad faith without compliance to the law. Except there is a deliberate attempt to plunge the nation into political crisis, INEC should proceed with the election as if nothing happened.”
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday stated that neither the presidential candidate of the APC nor of the PDP would get his vote in the forthcoming election, saying the two were worthy of rejection.
Soyinka, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos titled, ‘Civic Choice in a Time of Judicial Penkelemes’, stressed that the country was in urgent need of a new direction, adding that little wonder there were so many opposition parties to take over the wheel of governance.
“I, Wole Soyinka, will not be voting for either of the two so-called contestants. I find both of them worthy of absolute rejection,” Soyinka said.
He added: “For a number of reasons, I will not go into that and I am not interested in comparative assessment, it is too late for that.”
Soyinka further said that there was a political coalition holding simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja presently, which would produce a consensus candidate that would define his choice.
Soyinka added that there was no need for Nigerians to be enslaved permanently with the old discredited order of politicians.
He said: “My position is simply that it is time for a totally new direction, obviously I am not the only one otherwise there will not be so many opposition parties wanting to take over the reins of government.
“As I am speaking, there is a coalition having its meeting in Lagos in which they hope to produce a consensus candidate; there is another group meeting in Abuja and, at the end, they will send us their consensus candidate.
“There are things going on in the background and there is need to change the direction of this nation in a positive way, and to make the public understand that they do not have to be enslaved permanently with the old discredited order.”
