Secondus Accuses Gambari, Oshiomhole Of Undermining Democracy

• PDP vows to resist postponement of Edo, Ondo guber elections

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus says the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole are subverting democracy by their actions.

He further accused both men of constituting themselves into serious threat against the nation’s democracy by their actions and comments, noting that the danger is becoming more real and scary everyday

This is as he also warned that the PDP will fiercely resist any attempt to postpone the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections slated for September 19 and October 10 respectively.

According to Secondus; “The PDP has watched with utmost concern the developing situation in Edo state. We have watched the growing desperation of the APC, and the Presidency to capture Edo state in the September 19 gubernatorial election at all cost.”

Speaking against the backdrop of the short viral video where Gambari and Oshiomhole were seen discussing the rising incidence of violence ahead of the September 19 Edo state governorship election, Secondus said; “We are deeply saddened that under the watch of an elected President, Muhammadu Buhari, who is a huge beneficiary of democracy, the nation’s highest seat of power is being used for the hatching of plans to undermine democracy.”

The PDP Chairman, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday insisted that “The Chief of staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari is such a strategic staff that when he is involved in any underhand thing, the President cannot free himself from it.”

He therefore urged the National Assembly to call for the video tape and thoroughly scrutinise its content in order to act appropriately, adding; “The constitution and the Electoral Act are clear on this type of blatant undermining of democracy by clamping down on the opposition.”

Secondus further stated that; “It’s very unfortunate that the numerous problems overwhelming the nation is not disturbing the President and his party but they are engaged in planning how to blackmail and arrest the opposition.

“It’s also in our findings that the several efforts of APC leaders to arm-twist the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) into falling for their devious moves to shift the election.”

Alleging that “All these anti -democratic moves are all aimed at one thing; creating a constitutional logjam to disruption the election because they know they cannot win”, the PDP National Chairman further claimed that “the discredited former Chairman of APC was smuggled into Aso Rock Villa to fine tune the rigging strategy for Edo.”

“The leaked video which has been confirmed by the Presidency, says it all, the plan to arrest and keep away all opposition leaders and clear the way for the rigging machinery of APC to roll through,” he said

Secondus described the development as not only shameful but also very unfortunate that the Aso Villa is being used to plan and device ways of inflicting harm on Nigeria’s democracy.

He therefore charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary to stand firm in defence of democracy and not pan to the “manipulative tendencies” of APC and the President Buhari-led administration.

For him, “Nigerians should declare anybody or group working to truncate the ongoing electoral processes for Edo and Ondo states as enemies of democracy who want to inject crisis in the two states by undermining the will of the people.”

“We wish to also draw the attention of the international community to this gross abuse of planning to undermine democratic process by critical staff who should defend it.

“We demand appropriate sanction of the individuals involved in this anti-democratic act, they should be given visa restrictions to any democratic countries.

“The interest and will of the people of Edo state should be paramount in all decisions and that should guide any action either by the INEC or the government”, he said