The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted of alleged move by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to clamp down on Nigerians and compromise the electoral system in Cross River state in bid to rig Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
The party alleged that Governor Ben Ayade has compromised some members of the Election Special Forces detailed from Abuja for the elections in the state.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologinagba, Thursday, PDP said, “the said operatives led by a Commissioner of Police were taken to the Government House in Calabar where Governor Ayade reportedly handed them a list of 150 prominent opposition members and supporters who he allegedly ordered to be arrested and taken out of circulation before and during the elections.”
The statement said “further information at our disposal indicates that Governor Ayade also provided the alleged compromised security operatives with 14 trucks and other vehicles to hound, arrest and convey the said opposition members to secret detention facilities in the State Capital.
“The intention of the APC is to use the security operatives to harass the opposition, instill fear in the people, create tension and cause voter suppression in the State having realized that the people have rejected the APC and its Presidential and National Assembly candidates due to their manifest failures.
“It is however imperative to caution Governor Ayade and the alleged compromised security operatives to note that Cross River State is a stronghold of the PDP; that the people of Cross River State firmly stand with the PDP and our Presidential and National Assembly candidates and can never be cowed or subjugated by anybody in this election.
“Our Party calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the said Commissioner of Police from Cross River State so as to avert a possible breakdown of Law and Order in the State.”
