2019: Election will be PDP Versus INEC, Security Agencies, Says Saraki

 

Ahead of the 2019 general election, the Senate President Bukola Saraki has alleged that the main opposition political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would face stiff battles from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies in the election, stating that despite the perceived obstacles, the party is confident of victory.

Saraki, who disclosed thison Sunday in Lagos at the 2018 Atiku Traders Cup unveiling ceremony organised by Unit2Unit Initiative, noted that one of the biggest challenges in the country is the ability of the electorate to protect their votes.

He also expressed confidence of victory in the forthcoming elections, noting that there is need for traders and party faithful to come out en mass to vote.

He said: “The pledge you wrote is so personalised. The part that is so personalised in the pledge in protecting your vote.

“We acknowledge the importance of traders in the economy, and the impact you have played in contributing to the economy. The message we have for traders is that they should go and cast their vote on election day. Don’t stay in your house and give excuses why you could not vote. We are imploring you to come out in en mass to vote and protect your vote. The biggest challenge we have in this country is the ability to protect our vote. It is obvious we know that we are going to win, but the next challenge we have is protecting our votes.”

Saraki, who was represented at the event by the Onuoha Nnaji, noted that from their campaign analysis, they have discovered that they are contesting against three entities-the candidate, INEC and security agencies, “so we should acknowledge that it is not just a fight, there are other forces behind. INEC is a force, and the security agencies are also a force.”

The Senate president further noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has displayed how the security agencies and INEC can be a force with the Osun and Ekiti States elections.

He added that in the Osun State election, INEC robbed the PDP, while in the Ekiti State election, the security agencies also robbed the PDP.

According to him, “In our campaign analysis, we have discovered that we are contesting against three elements-the candidate, INEC and security agencies. So we should acknowledge that it is not just a fight, there are other forces behind.

“The candidate is not a force, if it is about the candidate, we have won. But the truth is that security agencies and INEC are strong forces behind. APC government has displayed how security agencies and INEC can be a force in Osun and Ekiti States elections.

Earlier in his welcome address, the National Coordinator of Unit2Unit Initiative, Dr. Anyigor Vincent, noted that the group was a child of necessity born out of sheer desire and determination to ensure that the charade that happened in 2015 presidential election does not happen again.

He also noted that upon the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party presidential candidate, the group came together and adopted his candidacy and resolved to work with him until victory is achieved.

“I wish to inform you that Lagos State is completely taken over by Unit2Unit Initiative. As a matter of fact, the football tournament for which we are gathered here today to unveil the trophy had over 120 markets scattered across the state. They took part in the qualifiers out of which 32 teams representing 32 markets qualified for the finals,” he stated.