PDP accuses APC of plans to rig 2023 elections
National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has initiated plans to rig the 2023 general election.
Secondus, in a statement that was issued by Ike Abonyi, said the Presidency and ruling party were not working towards free and fair polls in 2023.
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He spoke against the backdrop of media reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is halting procurement of electronic voting machines for the 2023 polls because of the rejection of e-transmission of election results by the National Assembly.
He said since the existing Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution gave INEC the latitude to conduct credible elections, it does not need the National Assembly’s approval to perform its duties.
“From all indications, INEC is trying to abdicate its constitutionally assigned responsibilities of conducting free, fair and transparent elections hiding under the cover of delayed amended Electoral Act or rejection of e-transmission of results.
“Nigerians and democratic observers globally are watching INEC ahead of 2023 and it will be disastrous if the independent electoral body dances to the antics of the ruling party,” he said.
Secondus said if INEC was able to conduct governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states in September and October last year respectively without the amended Electoral Act, it was possible to replicate the same feat all over the country.
Meanwhile, PDP has described plans by the Federal Government to re-introduce toll gates on some major highways as insensitive.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, said the planned re-introduction of toll gates would impose more hardship on Nigerians.
The opposition party recalled that its past administration had dismantled the toll gates 18 years ago in order to ease the burden on the people, as well as end the corrupt regime of operators.
According to the party, with the huge financial resources at the disposal of the government, there is no justification to impose an extra road tax, “particularly in the face of the reckless and unbridled looting of national revenue by its leaders.
“Our party, after extensive consideration, insists the move to return the toll gates to allow All Progressives Congress (APC) interests to further fleece already impoverished Nigerians, is offensive, vexatious, inflammatory and as such should not be contemplated under any guise whatsoever.
“The PDP, therefore completely rejects the return of toll gates, as it will add more economic burden on the people, lead to hike in transport fares, increase in the prices of goods and services as well as provide safe haven for corrupt APC leaders to extort money from innocent Nigerians.
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“APC’s decision to impose levies on the highway, even after it had increased the pump price of fuel to an extortionate N165 per litre, further confirms that APC is a heartless party that is out to fleece and impose hardship on the people to benefit its leaders.
PDP accuses APC of plans to rig 2023 elections
