“It is because we are the ruling party, we don’t want to be unruly because if we were the opposition, we would make a lot of noise and say a lot of things.”
These were the words of the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muázu when he played host a delegation of Africa Union Election Observers, led by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, in his office at Wadata House in Wuse Zone 5.
Muázu said that the party had made its observations and complaints to the Independent National Electoral Commission which he said have been on the threshold of disenfranchising 23 million Nigerians even as the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega told the world that he is ready for elections.
“We are saying that he is not ready, 23 million out of the 68 million registered voters, by his personal submission in the Council of State that was held last week to review the preparedness or otherwise of INEC to conduct the election. Twenty three million PVCs were either produced and not distributed or not produced at all.
“This must be highlighted and made known to the world. Your report must be very explicit to explain what has happened. He is lying.
“We must not have 100 per cent as the threshold for distribution and collection but 23 million out of 68 million eligible voters or 34 per cent as the INEC Chairman himself confirmed is unacceptable by any standard.”
Adamu Mu’azu insisted that PDP welcome the use of Electronic Management Tool for the 2015 elections but that the country is not ready to be used as a guinea pig. He said that INEC must ensure a successful test-run before approving it for use in the elections.
The team leader, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi said they were impressed to see that there was no street fighting or protest trailing the postponement of the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, adding that it was a sign of maturity of Nigerians and the depth of democratic practice in the country.
Dr. Abdullahi, who was a former Commissioner in Mu’azu’s cabinet when he was governor of Bauchi State between 1999 and 2007, was accompanied on the visit by five members of the AU observer mission to monitor the March 28 elections. [myad]
