TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says any plan to declare a state of emergency in Anambra is a ploy to rig the November 6 governorship election in the state.

The opposition party said this, while reacting to the position of the federal government that a state of emergency may be declared in Anambra to improve security in the state.

In recent weeks, Anambra has been targeted by gunmen, resulting in the loss of lives and properties.

Speaking after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the federal government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens.

“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties,” he said.

“And you cannot rule out the possibility of declaration of state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.”

But in a statement, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesperson, said the federal government has the capacity to maintain peace in Anambra, without declaring a state of emergency.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to perish every contemplations of imposing a state of emergency in Anambra state ahead of the November 6 governorship election,” the statement reads.

“The PDP holds that the reported move to foist an emergency rule in Anambra state is a ploy by the APC-led government to suppress the people, manipulate the process and rig the governorship election for the APC and its candidate.

“Our party demands that the APC and its administration should come clean on their roles in the sudden rise in insecurity in Anambra state ahead of the election.

“This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra is contrived to heighten tension in the state, so as to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC.

“The PDP insists that the Federal Government has the capacity to ensure peace in Anambra before, during and even after the election, if it so desired. We therefore invite the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to be guided accordingly.

“Our party also charges the people of Anambra state to remain calm and alert as well as take steps within the ambit of the law to resist plots by the APC to derail the electoral process in its inordinate ambition to seize Anambra through the back door.”