FG accuses PDP of laying groundwork for constitutional crisis

…Don’t allow your supporters cause violence over polls’ results, US urges candidates

Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The Federal Government has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of laying the groundwork for a constitutional crisis in the country. This is according to the APC by unleashing what it described as the party’s “talking heads” on the public space to claim victory from Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election, even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to announce the result. In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the ruling APC warned the opposition against its plans to truncate the electoral process and making the February 23, 2019 elections inconclusive. The warning is contained in a statement on Monday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. According to the Information minister, by usurping the role of INEC through the announcement of result, the PDP will violate the Electoral Act which he said is a very serious offence. ”This confirms what we said in a series of pre-election press conferences, that the PDP realising it cannot win a free and fair election will do everything possible to scuttle the polls, failing which it will proceed to the next stage, which is to discredit the entire electoral process, including the result, with the ultimate aim of precipitating a constitutional crisis and pushing for an interim government,” he said. The minister wondered why those who are parading themselves as Democrats would “show such disdain for the electoral process, which is a key ingredient of democracy.” He called on the security agencies to check the activities of the PDP in this regard by arresting and prosecuting anyone who announces the result of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, other than INEC. Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Nigeria has told candidates in last Saturday’s elections to urge their supporters not to cause violence as results are being announced. In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, urged all candidates to abide by the peace accord they signed. Symington also warned political parties not to claim victory until the results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Symington also warned that no one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does. “We urge all candidates to honour the Peace Accord they signed. All should convince those who support them to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with INEC. “No one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the results are final. Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results”, he stated. While congratulating Nigerians for going out to vote en masse to exercise their franchise despite a few incidents of violence, Symington condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the violence. “I congratulate the tens of millions of Nigerians who stood patiently in long lines to vote this week and the hundreds of thousands who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections. “As noted by many observer groups in their preliminary reports, this election was predominantly peaceful, and it was proof of the Nigerian people’s resolute commitment to choose their leaders. “The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives”, he added.