PDP accuses APC of plot to win rerun by fire by force

..Vows to resist electoral fraud
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

Sokoto – With ten days to the repeat of the governorship election in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress of plotting to use the military and other security agents to win the state by force.

From left, PDP Presidential aspirants Hon. Dati Baba Ahmedi, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the National Chairman of PDP Uche Secondus during the protest against the outcome of Osun State Governorship election in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the rerun polls in the state for Saturday, March 23, 2019, following the claim that no clear winner emerged in the first ballot cast on March 9.

But the PDP, on whose platform governor Aminu Wiziri Tambuwal ran and will also run in the rescheduled election, issued a strongly worded warning on Thursday against the federal government and the opposition APC in Sokoto not to contemplate using any instrument of force to stall the will of Sokoto voters.

In the statement made available to Vanguard by the Chairman of the PDP in Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, the party said that any attempt by the government and its security agents to manipulate the process would lead to serious consequences.

The party said it was only asking the government to allow a level playing field for the two candidates in the poll and boasted that its candidate, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, would win given the electorate’s preference for him.

The statement said: “The People’s Democratic Party in Sokoto State is aware of plans by the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress at national level to massively deploy security agents and military troops to the State during the supplementary elections for the governorship and State Assembly, scheduled for March 23, 2019.

This is clear with a view to militarising the polls in order to intimidate and terrify our people into submission and deny them the freedom and composure to elect candidates of their choice, the same game plan of the APC for the two subsequent elections.

“Our party is also in the know that prominent politicians from other states, especially those neighbouring Sokoto State, will be assigned into Sokoto to try to influence the vote in the areas affected by the election reschedule.

“Our party wishes to caution all the parties and individuals involved in the scheme against infringement on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of our people to their choice. The PDP also draws the attention of these schemers to the inherent dangers of their plans to the safety of our people, their lives and property.

“Sokoto is a peaceful state, our people are peace loving and law abiding and therefore do not deserve this unwarranted interference and harassment that greatly threatens our lives, at the altar of the crude quest for power.

“Sokoto State, as the originator of all its neighbours, deserves respect and the goodwill of its sisters, rather than be turned into a battle zone for unscrupulous politicians, who wish to rule our people against their will.

“Our people have expressed their will in the unjustifiably disrupted electoral process and will not be cowed into changing their choice by any force, however massive, contriving or strong.

“It should be noted however, that the APC, the institutions of the Federal Government and individuals involved in this plot will be held responsible for the possible negative consequences of their desperate designs for Sokoto State.