APC Raises Alarm Over Kogi/Bayelsa Guber, ‘We’ve Uncovered Plot To Compromise Security, Electoral Personnel’

Ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa States, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of an orchestrated plot to unleash violence in the two states.

The APC noted that violence has been the election winning strategy for the PDP during its 16 years rule.

According to a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, dated October 21, 2019, the APC said the strategy started to fail them from 2015 and particularly in the 2019 elections, adding that same will be the story on November 16.

The statement also said the PDP is creating an atmosphere of fear and stage-managed violence, while playing the victim so as to scare voters from coming out on Election Day to exercise their franchise.

Part of the statement read in part: “We strongly call on security agencies to take seriously PDP’s recent threats to the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Ahmed Nasir El-Rufai who is the Chairman of the APC Kogi State National Governorship Campaign Council, to “steer clear” of Kogi State during the electioneering period.

“One asks, why has the PDP refused to embark on any major campaign in Bayelsa and Kogi states? They are clearly no planning for a credible electoral process. We have confirmed PDP’s grand plan to rather than campaign, compromise security agents and electoral personnel deployed for the governorship elections.

“In Kogi, defeat stares PDP in the face and because they do not have any answer to Governor Yahaya Bello’s tremendous accomplishments, they have decided to create an atmosphere of fear, stage-manage violence and are typically getting ready to cause chaos on Election Day.

“In Bayelsa, the centre has completely fallen apart for the PDP with the gale of defection of many party stalwarts and senior appointees of the outgoing administration of Governor Seriake Dickson into the APC fold. The massive and post-partisan popularity of the APC candidate, Chief David Lyon is visible to the blind.

“We have received reports of arms stockpiling and vote-buying plans by PDP elements in Bayelsa State. We have also confirmed reports showing plans are afoot to stage-manage violence to disrupt the election while blaming APC.

“Currently, the APC campaign trains are rounding off ward and community levels campaign all across Kogi State. A formidable campaign council has been inaugurated by the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El-Rufai. The council boasts of seven serving governors and several experienced political leaders of our party,” the statement added.

The APC said because it is determined to win the elections by majority votes in both states under free and fair elections, it has set up a campaign council for the Bayelsa poll under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Badaru with several serving governors as members.

The party further vowed to resist any plot by the PDP to rubbish the successes it has recorded in the conduct of credible elections since 2015 and urged the electorates to defend their votes to ensure progressive leadership in the states.