Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of socio-political move to scuttle the general elections.
Addressing a press conference, yesterday, at the PDP secretariat, the state chairman of the party, Felix Hassan Hyat, alleged that one of the APC’s plans was to disobey court order over some pending matters affecting some communities and personalities in the state.
When contacted on phone, Assistant Secretary of APC) in the state, Yahaya Pate, said he would not react to the allegation until the chairman of the party, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (retd), gave him go ahead to do so.
But, at the time of filling this report, neither Pate nor Jekada called back to react to the allegation.
However, Hyat said: “Information reaching us now has it that the governor is currently mobilising some observer groups to the Government House, to induce them to dance to his tune. His plan is to pressurise them to cook up false reports that would support his rigging plan.
‘‘We call on the observer groups not to succumb to the governor’s antics, but continue to remain neutral and unbiased in the discharge of their duties, as stakeholders in the electoral process.
“We are also aware of the plan of the government to scuttle the forthcoming elections in Kaduna State, by engaging in actions that could provoke the people to cause crisis, so that a state of emergency would be declared, inorder for him to call for the cancellation of the elections, because he is already sure of losing.”
He alleged that part of the orchestrated plan is to install a new chief in the controversial Adara Chiefdom, despite the litigation in court.
“This is in addition to using fake results to swear-in the APC candidate in Jaba Local Government who lost the last council polls, despite the fact that the case is in court.
‘‘The governor knows that such actions could lead to resistance by the people which can cause mayhem. We call on the people concerned to remain calm and law abiding, no matter the provocation.
“We’ve further gathered, from our field operators, that the APC government in Kaduna State has recruited thousands of Kato da Gora, a state sponsored security outfit, with the aim of hijacking ballot boxes and papers on transit to polling units, especially in rural areas. We are calling on both INEC, security agencies and all observers to take note of this very important issue, and act accordingly.
“We remain solidly on the side of the people of Kaduna State, and strongly plead with them that the patience they have exhibited in the past three years and nine months should not be sacrificed by anger of a few days. We urge the people to come out en masse to vote massively and peacefully for the PDP, so we can bring about a new leadership at the National and State levels, that would get Nigeria working again, and that which shall rescue, reunite and reconstruct Kaduna State.”
Hyat further alleged that that the order by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), barring VIPs from using security personnels for partisan political activities and harassment of innocent citizens, is grossly being violated.
A case in point is that of the wife of the National Security Adviser (NSA), whose brother is contesting for the House of Representatives in Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State under the APC.
“The wife of the NSA has been using soldiers to harass and intimidate people in favour of her brother. We condemn this in very strong terms and call on the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command to investigate it”.