Gyang Bere, Jos
Former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau North Dr Jonah David Jang has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable them rig the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
He claimed that the APC influenced the Commission to postpone the elections because, according to him, the outcome was not going to favour the ruling party.
Jang disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists in Jos and said President Buhari was trying to destroy democracy in the country.
“I believe that INEC is playing the game of cat and mouse with Nigerians. Nigerians have been suspecting INEC for a very long time and what they did last night has proven the suspicion of Nigerians,” Jang said.
“INEC has been preparing for this election in the last four years and on the eve of the elections, they lock themselves at the headquarters [in which] they are holding meetings, and when sensitive electoral materials have been sent out and people are waiting to go to their polling units at 6am, [they] are told that the elections have been postponed. Nigeria is not a Banana Republic.
“The PDP surrendered power after ruling for 16 years to the APC, and the APC has done very bad in governing Nigeria in the last four years, they are now afraid of losing elections, that is why they are manipulating the INEC.
“The INEC is no more independent, it is being manipulated by the government of the day and this is unfortunate for our democracy that some of us fought for. I am one of the founding father’s of G18, G34 that eventually formed the PDP,; if Abacha had lived, only God knows if I would still be alive today,” Jang stated.
The former governor explained that Nigeria was bigger than any individual and political party, saying that the postponement of the election has caused hardship and pain to ordinary Nigerians, political parties and party andidates.
Jang said Nigeria was a fragile state and urged INEC not to do anything contrary to the will of the people, saying that it will lead to the country splitting.
“I am advising the government of the day and the INEC to know that about 180 million Nigerians, who’se… cannot be toyed with… Let us hold a credible election… The APC should be gentle enough to surrender, if they lose, graciously.
“The truth is that they allowed us, the PDP, to distribute our little resources for the elections all over, so that they can now bring in government money to buy Nigerians,. But I want to advise Nigerians not to vote this government, they must go because they have failed,” Jang said.