The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused of plotting to attack some equipment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the elections.
The allegation was made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, some members of the ruling party have allegedly mobilized thugs to launch fresh attacks on INEC offices and its facilities.
It also claimed that the APC has orchestrated the plan to hack the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to frustrate INEC’s ability to conduct the elections.
The PDP, therefore, asked security agencies to protect the facilities and equipment of the electoral body and ensure that the forthcoming polls are free, fair, and credible.
The statement reads: “Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP charges security agencies to beef up security around the offices and facilities of INEC from any attacks by the sinking APC.
The PDP’s position is coming against the background of apprehensions in the public space of alleged plots by certain APC interests to launch a coordinated attack on INEC offices and facilities in various parts of the country to destroy the Commission’s BVAS machines to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections.
“Credible information available to our Party indicates that the said APC interests which are bent on scuttling the elections to avoid a humiliating defeat are allegedly mobilizing thugs to launch fresh attacks on INEC offices and its facilities where BVAS machines are located.
“Some prominent APC leaders including certain APC governors, having failed in their designs to have the elections postponed and having also been resisted in their plot to use their orchestrated cash scarcity to destabilize the nation, are now allegedly plotting to cripple INEC’s ability to conduct the elections by destroying the BVAS machines.
“These APC leaders and their apologists have evidently revealed themselves as a clear and present threat not only to the electoral process but also to our corporate existence as a nation and must be resisted by all.
“The PDP, therefore, charges the security agencies to take all necessary steps to provide adequate protection for INEC facilities, equipment, and personnel before, during, and after the elections.”
The PDP asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put all measures in place for free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in keeping with his assurances to Nigerians and the international community.
It added that Tinubu must realize that Nigerians will never be deterred from their resolve to vote for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to rebuild the nation.
“The APC and the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign must accept the fact that Nigerians will never be deterred from their resolve to vote in the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to rebuild our nation from the disastrous misrule of the APC,” the PDP added.