The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ forum has accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
The forum was reacting to the nullification of the election of Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom by the appeal court, claiming that through its “puppet master in Lagos”, the APC has entered an alliance with the judiciary to manipulate election results.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in Akwa Ibom State within 90 days.
“The nullification of the election of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel by the court of appeal on Friday in Abuja should worry all those who truly desire good for this country,” read a statement issued by Osaro Onaiwu, coordinator of the forum.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the APC is bent on foisting a one-party state in Nigeria and to do so, it is ready to compromise the judiciary, destroy every fibre of integrity and sanctity of the judicial process through state compromise of the judiciary.
“For 16 years that the PDP governed, it respected the right to opposition and did not balkanise the judiciary as we have witnessed in the past seven months of the APC regime.
“Let Nigerians realise that the judiciary is being tele-guided by a puppet master in Lagos and state apparatus and this charade like in all things unholy will soon collapse because a peoples will to choose their leaders can never be negotiated or mortgaged out of desperation,” Onaiwu said.
However, he expressed confidence that “the people of Akwa Ibom state and Nigerians of goodwill will resist the obnoxious decline into fascism as was demonstrated recently in Bayelsa state where the people stood firm against state terror and attempted imposition by the APC”.
Onaiwu reminded Nigerians that Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, had allegedly said it was a national security risk for the oil-rich states to be controlled by the opposition.
