We Don’t Have Constitutional Power To Postpone Elections, PDP Tells APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization has reminded the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Federal Government which it controls has no constitutional power to postpone the February 14 and 28 general elections in the country.
Addressing news men in Abuja today, the Director of media and publicity of the PDP Presidential campaign organization, Femi Fani-Kayode said that allegation by APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed that the ruling party is not ready for the scheduled February general elections and that it is plotting to scuttle the process with a view to emplacing an Interim National Government is shameful.
“These allegations are disingenuous, tenuous and shameful.  Rather than elevate the APC, this resort to mendacity and scaremongering further reduces them to a gang of desperadoes seeking power by all means and simply for the sake of it.”
Fani-Kayode made it clear that PDP and Jonathan government do not superintend over electoral processes and elections in this country, adding that there is an independent election body in place-the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega.
“It is within the purview of INEC to make decisions about the holding and/or postponement of elections.  It is not within the functions of the PDP or the Federal Government.  We take exception to the fact that they keep on making this allegation deliberately to provoke us.  “When they say that the PDP is controlling INEC they have become nothing but victims of their own delusions and they are obviously suffering from terrible hallucination. INEC is completely independent. We have called on INEC to ensure that everybody has the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).  We have done that public service; but as to whether election is to be postponed or not is INEC’s sole decision. Whichever way, we are very well prepared for election. Let it be clear that the APC leaders and members are the ones who are afraid of elections. We are traversing the length and breadth of the country campaigning to win votes. Our candidate, President Jonathan has given a good account of himself, using the campaign platform to brilliantly articulate and showcase his sterling achievements and to place on the table those projects and programmes he intends to execute and/or implement once his mandate is renewed.”
Fani-Kayode also said that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not provide for the Interim Nation Government contraption which APC has been talking about.
APC’s Lai Mohammed alleged at a news briefing in Lagos yesterday said that the Presidency and PDP are determined to postpone the elections and installed an interim government.
Fani-Kayode asked Nigerians to discountenance APC and Lai Mohammed’s petty lies, adding: “they can be rest assured that all arms of government are patriotically committed to discharging their constitutionally-prescribed responsibilities and duties.
“We believe that the APC’s unconscionable alarm is part of its characteristic and habitual propaganda through which it has over and over again imposed its skewed agenda on many undiscerning Nigerians.  We are constrained to take this opportunity to paint an accurate portrait of the APC and its leaders.
It is time for us to expose them for what they really are.  The truth is that they are agents of destabilisation.  They comprise of retrogressive elements that are desperate to take power just for the sake of it. If they ever succeed in taking power in this country, God forbid, they will take the country back into darkness because they represent darkness and everything that is reprehensible.
“We, as a party, will not allow them to damage the good work that the PDP, most especially the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, has done to transform our nation.  The APC can go on its illusive flight of self-importance, but it is now increasingly clear to every Nigerian at home and in the Diaspora as well as members of the International Community that the opposition party is excessively desperate for presidential power and has imported unrestrained violence into our body-politic.
“The truth is that they cannot win the forthcoming elections and they know it.  That is why they have come up with the allegation of Interim National Government.
“We repeat: those who want Interim National Government are the APC and some elements that are secretly behind their party.  Their plan is to prepare a fertile ground upon which to discredit our anticipated victory at the polls, unleash anarchy and violence on the country after they lose so that we would not be able to enjoy our victory.  By the grace of God and the support of a vast majority of Nigerians, their plan will fail.
“The nation is already subjected to a dress rehearsal of the monumental violence that the APC is planning.  You can see how the party has attacked virtually everyone except itself.  It is time that all Nigerians of goodwill told the APC that enough is enough.
“They must stop intimidating people and they must know their place.  Indeed, the APC should stop alleging that everybody has a hidden agenda except for its own leaders and members.” [myad]