TheCable

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is distracting the judiciary with respect to its comment over the court of appeal ruling which ordered the removal of the governor of Akwa Ibom state.

The PDP had said the ruling party was manipulating the judiciary in a bid to take over its oil producing states and foist a one-party state in the country.

Dismissing the allegation, Mala Buni, APC’s national secretary, said court decisions in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba states were a confirmation of “PDP’s brazen election malpractices, manipulation and intimidation” during the 2015 election.

“The APC and indeed Nigerians are increasingly worried by the clannish and sectional positions being canvassed by the PDP governors,” the statement read.

“We reject the PDP governors’ attempt to polarise the country along oil-producing and non-producing lines.

“All geo-political regions of the country are important and equal partners in progress in efforts by the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to return Nigeria to its respected position in the comity of nations.

“During the 2015 general elections, in many parts of the south-south, particularly Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Nigerians and the international community watched in horror how the PDP used a combination of security operatives, thugs and party agents to rig elections against the popular will of the electorate.

“Nigerians are still recovering from the last 16 years of locust under the PDP. We invite the PDP to supports current efforts aimed at social, economic and institutional reforms. Change has come.

“We advise the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.

“The APC urges Nigerians, and indeed members of the international community who see the merit in efforts to correct Nigeria’s electoral systems, not to be distracted by this ploy by the PDP to discredit judicial efforts.

“PDP governors’ allegation that ‘APC is bent on foisting a one-party state in Nigeria’ is yet another silly talk.

“INEC is the only constitutional body empowered to register and deregister political parties. The PDP fears are understandable owing to their growing unpopularity after the last 16 years of maladministration and looting which have resulted in the country’s economic ruin by consecutive PDP government.”