PDP Mocks APC over Disqualification of Bayelsa Guber Candidates …Charges police to question Lyon, others over killings

...Secondus tasks security agencies on free, fair elections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no place in the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State following the disqualification of its candidate, David Lyon and his running mate by two courts of competent jurisdiction.

This is coming as the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, called on security agencies, particularly the military, to allow the people of Bayelsa and Kogi States vote their choices in the next Saturday's governorship election.

The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, “that the development points to nothing but victory for democracy and the fact that manipulators cannot continue to have their way in our electoral process.”

The party charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately delist the APC from the ballot as any vote cast for the party would be a wasted vote, since the court judgments have made it clear that the APC is not in the election.

 

The PDP urged INEC to note that no fewer than two decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction have negated the participation of the APC in the race.

The first was the judgment disqualifying the APC candidates over the presentation of false documents by the deputy governorship candidate, Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo, which was followed by another judgment nullifying the entirety of the APC primary that produced the candidates.

According to PDP, "It is therefore a trite law that given the circumstances that have entangled the candidature of the APC, the party, accordingly, has no place in the November 16 governorship election and cannot lay claim to any vote.

"Notwithstanding the disqualification, the PDP calls on the police and the military to immediately invite David Lyon and other APC leaders for questioning over the recent gruesome attack and killing of PDP supporters by APC thugs in Nembe."

The party condemned the attack by APC agents as cowardly and a clear case of crime against humanity, which must not be politicised under any guise.

It said: "Information available to the PDP shows that the attackers were known supporters of the APC, who have also been seen on several occasions at functions with APC leaders, including the disqualified candidates.

"Our party, therefore, stands in vehement rejection of any attempt to politicise the attack, as we insist that the masterminds, facilitators and executors must be swiftly brought to book on the full terms prescribed by our criminal laws."

Meanwhile, Secondus has called on security agencies, particularly the military, to allow the people of Bayelsa and Kogi States vote their choices in next Saturday's governorship election.

Secondus, while condemning the needless killing of a voter in Nembe, Bayelsa State, last Wednesday, urged security operatives not to allow themselves into areas that will lower their professional value in the eyes of well-meaning election observers and watchers.

The national chairman said in a statement from his media office yesterday that the disqualification of the APC candidate in Bayelsa State should send a message to everyone that God does want the continuous bloodletting of innocent citizens.

"Nigerians expect all stakeholders in the Bayelsa State election to see divine hand in the disqualification of blood-thirsty APC from the race and respect it. That is a consequence of impunity and it should send a signal to all,” Secondus said.

He said from inception, “APC knew that they were never wanted in Bayelsa State but continued with the help of operatives to heat up the state to frighten voters out of the election.

"Even before the voting, God has shown His mighty hands and cleared the violent-prone APC out of the race.”

 Secondus also has strong word for security agencies in Kogi State “where the want-away state Governor, Yahaya Bello, has deployed all devious means, including violence, to thwart the will of voters in the state.”

He said it would be disgraceful if the military would allow a civilian governor assemble military uniform and deploy it on an election day for purposes of intimidating voters and swaying the election results.

Secondus, therefore, urged PDP members and supporters in the two states to refuse to be intimidated by coming out in their numbers to vote and defend their votes.