We Didn’t Want to Meet with Abdusalami’s Peace Committee – PDP

Malik Yahya & NAN/

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, has disclosed that the party initially wanted to shun the meeting with the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd).

Secondus told journalists on Friday in Abuja that the party considered the meeting unnecessary after it had resolved to challenge the outcome of the just concluded presidential election in court.

The party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had met with the National Peace Committee, on Thursday in Abuja.

Secondus said the meeting would not stop the party from going to court, as there was no condiction given to it by the committee.

“There was no condition. Initially, we were not to talk with them because a decision had been taken to go to court, but because of the personalities involved, we said ok, let’s just talk.

“There was no condition. There was no request of any condition.

“We made it clear that unless the injustices are addressed, there is no room for peace. It is only when you address the injustice that you can now sit down for peace,” he said.

While expressing confidence that the court would overturn the victory of President Muhsmmadu Buhari, he warned that nobody would stop the party from contesting the outcome of the February 23 Presidential Election.

“We will go to court. Nobody will stop us from going to court and bring out all of the facts both the international observers and some people have not seen.

“We will unearth them at the court and I believe that justice will be done at the court.

“Because, if we continue to suppress injustice and go sentimental, the country will continue to pile on gun powder that will explode one day.

“So much injustice has been done in this country and if we allow it and it continues to pile, nobody knows what will happen.

“So, that’s why we decided as good citizens and law-abiding and people who believe in rule of law that we will go,” Secondus said.

Secondus also spoke on the alleged militarisation of the elections particularly in the South South and South East.

He said it was one of the strategies the rulling party used in denying PDP victory.

He added the development was also responsible for alleged killing of innocent electorate and suppression of voters who were either scared out or chased away from polling units.

He said that even by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) own record of voter turnout in last Saturday’s election fell to about 36 percent from 44 percent it was in 2015.

“While the military was suppressing voters in PDP strongholds in the South, a different abracadabra was going on in some northern states particularly in Kano, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara states where numbers refuse to add up.

“In Borno, Yobe and Zamfara states, confirmed report shows that there was non-compliance in the use of Smart card reader as approved by INEC rules”.

He added that “The same applies to cancelled votes, in Nasarawa states over 115,000 votes cancelled, Kogi 79,000 votes, Plateau 30,000 votes indicating that these high incidence of vote cancellation were designed to suppress the margin of victory in PDP strongholds.

Secondus urged PDP members and supporters across the country not to despair but to remain steadfast and focused.

“Like our presidential candidate assured, we shall triumph at the end because democracy has come to stay in this country and is staying by the grace of God.

“I also wish to reiterate to our security agencies particularly the Army that they are not at war with any section of her citizens and they must try to be professional in their duties by staying away from election matters as directed by the Supreme Court of the land”.

Highlight of the press conference include one minute silence for Nigerians who lost their lives on the election day and in the course of celebrating the outcome.

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