Militarisation of polls: PDP reports Buhari to UN, demands resignation of INEC boss

*Security agencies now extension of APC – Clark, Dickson

*FG plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers – Wike

*PDP crying wolf where there is none – APC

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, reported President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Nations, UN, over alleged plots by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to scuttle the 2019 general elections, particularly, the presidential poll.

The PDP said there is tension in the country over possible manipulations by the Presidency, adding that if the UN and the international community failed to intervene and support a credible, free and fair election, the nation may wake up to a post-election violence capable of birthing a huge humanitarian crisis not only in the country but also in the entire West African sub-Sahara region.

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and President Muhammadu Buhari

The party stated this while receiving a delegation of the UN at its national secretariat, Abuja, yesterday.

Elsewhere, Elder statesman and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, also alleged that the Federal Government and the ruling party were abusing the security agencies with the intention of manipulating the 2019 polls.

Speaking with Journalists in Abuja shortly after Chief Clark paid the governor a condolence visit on the death of his mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson, the duo said with the activities of security agencies, especially the police in recent times, there is a threat to the nation’s democracy ahead of the 2019 polls. According to them, the security agencies have now turned themselves into an extension of the ruling party.

Indeed, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, alleged, yesterday that the APC-led Federal Government had concluded plans to militarise and destabilise the state with planting of 800 guns. The allegation was immediately dismissed by the Rivers State chapter of the APC as ‘’part of the manifest lies that can only come from an accidental governor.’’

Also, the national leadership of the APC asked Nigerians not to take the PDP and its leaders and supporters allegation seriously because it is a non-issue.

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, told Saturday Vanguard on phone: “It is the same thing they have been saying. They are crying wolf where there is no issue. Just let that (accusation) pass, it is not an issue.”

Buhari has militarised the electoral process – PDP

PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who led the members of the National Working Committee, NWC, to receive the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in his office in Abuja, claimed that President Buhari was compromising the military and other security forces to muscle the electoral process.

His words: “President Buhari is not preparing for elections. He is not prepared for the rigours of any electoral exercise. Every well-intentioned politician goes out to the street to engage and persuade the people with his or her manifesto and policies, but President Buhari is not ready to engage anybody in contest of ideas; that is why he is desperate to compromise our military as a measure of limitless powers to rig.

“The world saw how our service chiefs participated in President Buhari’s campaign rally. There is no way these service chiefs will not be pushed to resort to self-help on behalf of President Buhari and his APC in the election. The UN Security Council should note this and intervene to save our democratic process.

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https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/militarisation-of-polls-pdp-reports-buhari-to-un-demands-resignation-of-inec-boss/