By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarmoveralleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meddle in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP warned that any plot to deny the INEC of its independence would pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
State PDP Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka, said any action to subvert the party in a state where it enjoys the confidence of the people would sow the seed of discord for the immediate future.
He alleged that two serving ministers from the South West and a governor from the North Central are behind the pressure on the INEC to remove EyitayoJegede’s name as PDP governorship candidate despite court orders restraining it from doing so.
Before the MuhammaduBuhari administration, he recalled, the INEC hadthe status of an impartial umpire, warning that anything that robsit of its independence would destroy Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.
“A governor in one of the North Central states and two serving ministers from the South West are mounting undue and partisan pressures on the INEC to remove EyitayoJegede’s name as the PDP candidate … in spite of two court orders that restrain the INEC from so doing,” Fadaka said in a statement.
“We want to remind these functionaries of the APC government that prior to the advent of the … Buhari administration, the INEC had grown to the status of an impartial umpire in our elections, therefore every action that is currently being taken to rob [it] of its independence is actually investing in the destruction of our democracy.
“The INEC must be allowed to discharge its responsibilities without unnecessary political encumbrances.
“It is also pertinent to underscore the fact that any action taken to subvert a major party like the PDP in a state where it enjoys the absolute confidence of the people is indeed sowing a seed of discord for our immediate future.
“Those in government are expected to be statesmen that must care for the health of our nation.”
