(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that despite the commendable and patriot decision by the National Council of State that the 2015 general elections must go on as scheduled, proponents of election shift have not given up on their desperation to scuttle the elections.
APC in a statement in Abuja on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however, said that the desperadoes will always fail in their evil machinations, because no power is strong enough to defeat a determined people.
It said the provocative call by the bogus Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly for the postponement of the elections and the arrest of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega was one of the new antics of the election postponement campaigners.
''It is shameful that those who should be working hard to promote peaceful elections as scheduled are the same ones doing everything possible to trigger violence. Those who should ordinarily be seen as elder statesmen have degenerated to dangerous partisans and shameless promoters of a narrow, parochial interest, at the expense of the national interest.
''Who does not know that wherever President Goodluck Jonathan's interest lies, therein you will find Chief Edwin Clark, whether or not it is in the national interest? Who does not know that the anarchic call by Chief Clark and his cohorts are being made at the behest of a frenzied presidency?'' the party queried.
It also pointed to the irresponsible and divisive statement by PDP Spokesman Olisa Metuh as another indication that those working hard to sink the elections have not given up, wondering why Metuh will make such an incendiary statement that the APC and INEC are working hand in hand to disenfranchise the supporters of the PDP by making sure they do not get PVCs, without a shred of evidence beyond sheer emotions.
''People like Metuh speak just because they could, not because what they say adds any value to purpose democratic governance. Nigerians are undoubtedly confounded that the spokesman of a ruling party will be fanning the embers of ethnic discord, at such a sensitive time like this. There must be a limit to desperation,'' APC said, urging Nigerians to repudiate those who will stop at nothing to bring the nation crashing down instead of losing power through the ballot box
The party also slammed the Federal Government for striving to scare voters away from the polling booths during the election, which is the implication of the so-called intelligence announced by the DG of the National Orientation Agency and Coordination of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri.
''Saying they got intelligence report that female suicide bombers are planning to attack polling booths during Feb. elections is nothing but scaremongering and wishful thinking. In spite of them, the elections will proceed without violence because Nigerians are ready, willing and able to ensure that.
''Omeri, who is serving on the campaign committee of President Jonathan even as he is holding a sensitive national portfolio, should keep his intelligence to himself. No one but his masters will swallow his scaremongering, which is aimed at depopulating polling units during the elections,'' it said.
APC called on the security agencies to ensure enhanced protection for all the 11 presidential candidates contesting next week's election, lest anyone exploits the section of the Constitution allowing election shift if anything untoward should happen to any of the candidates.
The party appealed to its members and supporters to remain calm and not to succumb to the antics of those who are bent on precipitating violence before, during and after elections, saying non-violence should be their watchword.