We've Been Justified for Shunning Presidential Debate – APC
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), has said that it had been vindicated on its position of not participating in the presidential campaign debates, owing to the outbreak of rumpus among the organisers, the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG), has been compromised.
A press statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Sunday, noted that sordid details about the debate would have tainted the credibility of the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, had he participated.
A civil society group, Value and Integrity Group, with the knowledge of the workings of the NEDG, had alleged at a press conference last Friday, that a First Bank account, opened for NEDG, had the founder of a private television network, as its sole signatory, although, he was not listed as one of the directors.
The group also alleged that the television network’s address was used for the documentation of the First Bank account, instead of NEDG’s office address.
According to leaders of the Value and Integrity Group, Sina Odugbemi and Popoola Ajayi, Co-ordinator and Secretary, respectively, “an initial deposit of N1 million was paid into the said First Bank account, and on March 28, 2011, another N20 million, belonging to the NEDG, was paid into the personal account of the said founder of the leading private television network.
“We, at the APC Presidential Campaign, got the eye-opening news of the press conference by the Value and Integrity Group, accusing the Nigeria Election Debate Group, the crux of the allegation being that some members of NEDG have been monetarily influenced.
“Although, the group failed to mention from what source the monies came from, we had taken a position, based on intelligence made available to us, that the PDP compromised the integrity of an unnamed few in the NEDG, with huge and ridiculous sums of money.
“And watching President Goodluck Jonathan reading from a prepared script, gleefully, as he answered questions during the debate, confirmed our suspicion that there would be an Expo.
“Without a foreknowledge of the questions to be asked, why did the President come with prepared answers?
“These two scenarios: The allegation of corrupt inducements in the NEDG and the President, reading from a prepared script during the debate, validate our reasons for abstaining from the debate”, Shehu added.
