The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar to come clean and explain to Nigerians circumstances surrounding his recent trip to the United States of American.
Media reports quoting Reuters News agency have it the former Vice President paid heavy bribe to secure a temporary waiver of his alleged travel ban as a result of alleged corruption charges.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, APC also accused the PDP and its presidential candidate of elevating falsehood and crying wolf in an attempt to discredit the forth coming general election even before it is conducted.
The APC said: “Again, in the wake of the recent Reuters report that Atiku visited the US two weeks ago thanks to heavily paid lobbyists who aided the temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals and corruption indictments, we urge Atiku to come clean to Nigerians on his problems. This is the least he owes an electorate he wishes to lead.”
“As the 2019 general elections fast approaches, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has watched with consternation how the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the last couple of weeks has elevated falsehood and crying wolf into an ignoble art.
“Nigerians have also watched in disbelief how the PDP without proof has consistently and vehemently pilloried state institutions performing various roles in the coming general elections.
“From security agencies to our election management body, the PDP has spared none its barefaced lies.
“On a daily basis, the PDP has invented one lie after the other to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.
“PDP’s ignoble actions are unhealthy for our electoral processes and a threat to our maturing democracy.
“The PDP’s game plan is simple: Discredit the entire process before, during and after the elections in order to make the final outcome a “nullity” in its own jaundiced eyes.
“The PDP must understand that all registered political parties are equal stakeholders in the coming elections; hence the PDP’s tired narrative that the entire election process is skewed against it should be seen for what it is – PDP’s admittance of defeat.
“The era of sham elections is behind us. The records of credible elections conducted since the APC took over the country’s governance are public knowledge compared to selections, impositions and fraudulent elections under the PDP.
“We will continue in our progressive tradition of ensuring that elections are free, peaceful credible and every vote counts — The wishes of the electorate must prevail in all elections.
“Against this backdrop, we urge INEC and other state institutions responsible for different election duties to remain firm and focused in the discharge of their legitimate roles. They must not be stampeded into taking actions that run contrary to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“Our free advice to the PDP is that it concentrates its energy to resuscitate its floundering campaign, which has seen majority of its governors tacitly and openly avoid supporting the presidential bid of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”
