The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the “desperation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s camp to seize the presidential ticket”.
In a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP national publicity secretary, the opposition party described the convention as a “charade, mockery of democracy and an assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians.”
PPD alleged that the camp resorted to imposing officials who had been handed the directives to muzzle other presidential aspirants in the APC ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
“Delegates and other members of the APC were horrified when aspirants to various party offices were being threatened, harassed and in some cases, paid and handed written orders to mount the stage and announce their withdrawal for aspirants listed by President Buhari, under heavy security presence,” PDP said.
“Nigerians are invited to note that some of the officials preferred, particularly, the national chairman, are individuals overburdened by heavy corruption allegations, and whose expected investigation and prosecution have been traded for a presidential ticket for President Buhari.
“The world observed with shock how aspirants and delegates who dared to raise questions were manhandled by thugs and intimidated by security operatives.
“It is instructive to state that the APC convention directly reflects the confusion, intimidation, violations and descent to fascism, that have characterized governance in our nation in the last three years.
“President Buhari’s handlers are aware that due to his poor performance, clinching his party’s presidential ticket under a free, fair and credible primary is impossible, hence this resort to intimidation, coercion and escalation of official hooliganism in the APC.
“While we urge Nigerians and the international community to mark the desperation in Mr. President’s camp, for which they are bent at destroying our democracy, it is clear that with the character, personality and outlook of the incoming national executive of the APC, the party has been finally sunk by President Buhari and his power hungry cabal.”
