Onochie: APC Fuelling Violations, Abuse In Nigeria,PDP Claims

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said the attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his aide and frontline APC member, Ms Lauretta Onochie, as national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirms that the ruling party was to blame for the series of constitutional violations, abuse of human rights and impunity bedevilling the nation in the last five years.
This is as the party noted that such provocative, arrogant and disdainful display of impunity by the APC and its administration, particularly “in the violation of rules and crass abuse of apparatus of power, like the police, is responsible for the growing tension, remonstration and social restiveness currently threatening our national cohesion.”
A statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said “the PDP, and indeed, Nigerians are shocked that the APC deployed an impostor, as a spokesperson, to issue a statement to justify the brazen violation of paragraph 14 of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC.”
The statement read: “After a critical analysis of the statement and other offensive comments by the APC in support of constitutional violations and abuse of rights, no one is left in doubt that the APC, as a party, is bent on triggering a crisis and destroying the unity of our dear nation, seeing that it has no place in the future of Nigeria.
“It is distressing that while our party, known for our strict adherence to rule of law and an overwhelming majority of Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly and state governors, have rejected the offensive nomination, and urged President Buhari to send a replacement to the Senate, the APC is rather seeking to set up Mr President and further pitch him against already agitated Nigerians and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Our party finds it ludicrous that the APC in its wicked and anti-people enterprise, sought to divert attention from its atrocities by laying a false claim that some INEC members, including Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had links with the PDP.
“Such poorly scripted piece of fiction cannot sway Nigerians as they know that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was never a member of the PDP and that no member of the PDP has been appointed a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), while a card-carrying member of our party.
“The PDP, however, informs the APC that its failed diversionary tactics will never diminish the determination by the PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians from using every means possible in a democracy to stop Ms Onochie from being confirmed as INEC commissioner.”