…Says Bullion Vans Brought Ballot Papers Secretly To PDP Office From Abuja
BEVERLY HILLS, August 07, (THEWILL) – The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Party (APC) Thursday raised fresh alarm over what it alleged as a surreptitious and criminal transportation of millions of ballot papers into Osun with a bullion van by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Abuja on Wednesday.
A statement entitled: “In Spite of Mr. President’s Assurances, We Still Have Shenanigans,” and signed by the party’s state Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, and the Director of Publicity, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, said the bullion van was parked at the PDP secretariat until the wee hours of today (Thursday) before it was taken into an unknown destination.
The ballot papers, the party stated, were brought in preparatory to thumb-printing them at a Catholic School in Ife Odan and then surreptitiously to be added to the party’s tally in all wards and councils in Saturday’s election.
The statement also added that there are credible information to the effect that vehicles belonging to the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) are to be used for the distribution of the ballot papers to the selected areas where the PDP plans to use them to allegedly subvert the wishes of the people.
The statement noted that the crude method PDP is adopting is completely contrary to the assurance President Goodluck Jonathan gave to the people of Osun that the election will be free and fair in all ramifications.
The party thus condemned in strong terms what it called the desperate act of sabotage by the PDP aimed at winning election at all cost.
The statement said : “We condemn this subterfuge in its entirety. It is an act of desperation and a cynical vote of no confidence on the democratic process and the inalienable right of the people to freely choose their leaders.
“President Goodluck Jonathan assured the people of Osun last Saturday of his commitment to free and fair election and disavowal of rigging and electoral fraud.
“The evidence before us now is to the contrary. Mr. President should be true to his words and rein in his party members, who appear hell bent to truncate our hard-earned democracy, if they fail in their diabolical bid to rule the state at all cost.
“The PDP must know that the people of Osun are determined to have only their votes counted and to make only their votes count. They are willing on Saturday to let the whole world know that the only way in a democracy to acquire political power is to win their hearts and minds.”
Meanwhile, the party has warned all stakeholders involved in conduct of the election, particularly the security agencies and the adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be above board before, during and after the election process.
It also called on the people of the state to be on the look out and be sensitive to all activities in their areas and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate quarters for quick intervention.
“We are therefore urging security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and especially the people of the affected area, to be vigilant and be on the lookout for suspicious activities, which may be tantamount to subversion of our hard-earned democracy.
“Our people must also ensure that such subversive activities should not be condoned or allowed to happen in their precinct,” the statement added.
