….Says His Gloating Over APC Rigging Is Reckless
…..Demands An Open Investigation Into His Roles In The 2019, 2023 Presidential Elections
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday took President Muhammadu Buhari to the cleaner over his claim that overconfidence and bad tactical moves killed opposition at the 2023 polls.
The party, which said that history will not be kind to him, demanded international sanctions and travel ban on him and his family after May 29, 2023.
PDP which said that his gloating over alleged All Progressives Congress (APC) rigging is reckless, demanded an open investigation into his role in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said that the unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice comment credited to President Buhari is already causing apprehension, adding that the comment is capable of destroying the nation’s corporate existence.
“As you are aware, the February 25, 2023 Presidential election has been adjudged across the Nation and Globally as the worst in the history of our country.
“The Presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Winner.
“The general despondency, resentment and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.
“As you are also aware, the PDP is already at the Tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election.
“Nigerians and the International Community are therefore appalled, horrified and scandalized by the careless, unguarded and subjudice comment by President Buhari in which he attempted to justify the rigging of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the APC under his watch,” the party said.
The PDP said that the statement reveals the utter disregard that General Buhari has for the Constitutional democracy, judiciary and the Will of the Nigerian people as expressed at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.
“It is, to say the least, reprehensible for Mr. President to posture and gloat over the trampling of the Will of Nigerian, blame the opposition for being overconfident and, according to him, for not being ‘tactical,’ perhaps enough to outwit the violence, brutality, threats, suppression of voters, rigging and election manipulations by the APC and the government which he heads.
“It is unpardonable that President Buhari, who swore to uphold the laws of our country and made several commitments to the world to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent election, is rather in approval of election rigging through manifest compromise of INEC system and wide-spread alteration, falsification and switching of election results in favour of his rejected party, the APC.
“President Buhari is practically gloating over the undermining of democracy by INEC which refused to transmit directly results from the Polling Units to its Server/Website and announce same, in total violation of the express provisions of Section 64 Sub-section 4 (a) (b) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“More distressing is that after superintending over the rigging of the election, President Buhari, by his subjudice comments apparently seeks to bully, blackmail and influence the judiciary and the outcome of the petition pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, so as to allow his Party, the APC and its candidate to ‘grab, snatch and run’ with the people’s mandate,” the party said.
PDP said that Nigerians believed and expected President Buhari to leave a legacy of a free, fair and credible election based on his numerous undertakings and promises, adding that he’s leaving an ignoble, dishonorable and disgraceful legacy of enabling and superintending over the worst election conducted in the history of democracy in Nigeria.
“President Buhari, history will never be kind to you!
“It is instructive to state that part of the electoral process is the adjudication by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which is considering petitions arising from the election. President Buhari, by his subjudice statement is clearly interfering in electoral process ostensibly to influence the outcome and undermine the constitutionally laid down procedures for change of government.
“Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions including Visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately he vacates office on May 29, 2023.
“This demand for sanction is in line with President Buhari’s request on February 17, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium, wherein he called on the European Union (EU) to impose ‘weighty sanctions’ on those engaged in ‘unconstitutional change of governments’ as well as those influencing the ‘process and outcomes of elections.’
“In President Buhari’s words; “We also call for stronger support from the European Union in the condemnation and imposition of weighty sanctions on countries that engage in unconstitutional change of governments as well as manipulation of constitutions…
“It is therefore imperative for our partnership to also focus on strengthening election processes in Africa and prevent interference to influence the process and outcomes of elections…”
The party, has, however warned that President Buhari needs to advised to be circumspect and allow the judicial process to proceed without further undue interference and bullying by him.
