PDP planning to militarise elections - APC

The All Progressives Congress in the South-South zone has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of plans to rig the February elections using military might and violence.

The APC also said the PDP is desperate to win the election going by the continued application of violence against APC supporters in Rivers State and other states in the South-South region.

But the Cross River State Chairman of PDP, Mr. John Okon, in a swift reaction, said the party has no plans to use military in any election, challenging the APC to put structures on ground that could win elections instead of resorting to propaganda.



In a statement issued on Monday by its National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Eta, the APC said the recent threat by ex-militants from the President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa against opponents to his re-election bid was not to be taken lightly.

He said it was an indication that Jonathan had planned on ‘militarising’ the election with a view of cancelling it or rigging it at the slightest opportunity.

Eta said, “The recent deployment of soldiers to take possession of the Adokie Amasiemaka stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, for Jonathan’s campaign at the behest of the Presidency against the wish of Rivers people was indicative of Jonathan’s disregard for due process, useful advice and agreements.

“Whenever the military are deployed in such capacity and orientation, it means a war situation is at hand. It shows the height of desperation that the PDP Presidency has introduced into the February election build up which may not end well.

“The Rivers violence and the use of military might, in the case of the Adokie Amasiemaka stadium, are indications that same brute force would be contemplated and applied during the election in order to manipulate it in favour of the PDP especially in the south-south states.

Eta recalled that Jonathan has a penchant for failing to keep agreements and promises explaining that “much as he failed to dredge the Calabar Port, implement the UNEP report on Ogoni, build roads and other infrastructure and of course pursue desperately a second term ambition against an earlier promise lends credence to our doubt for a free, fair and credible elections especially in the south-south states.”

But reacting to the allegations, especially with regards to Cross River and one of the South-South states, the state chairman of PDP, Mr. John Okon, said the APC will always look for excuse to lose elections in the region because it is not firm on ground.

“Look at our clout in Cross River, how many military personnel did you see? We do our campaigns without using the military because there is no one that will make us consider violence. We are going to win for President Goodluck Jonathan in this state. It is structures that win elections, not propaganda,” Okon said.