As preparations heat up ahead of the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections in November and December, respectively, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has once again raised concerns over the emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu and Timpire Sylva as the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former ruling party in a statement noted that the emergence of the two former governors, who are facing trial over alleged financial malfeasance as the standard bearers of the APC, was a mockery of the anti-corruption stance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in the statement stated that: “It is a mockery of strategy that the APC which has been touting the fight against corruption as its major policy, would present to the people such candidates.
“In Kogi, we have the APC fielding Audu a former governor of the state.
“In the same vein, in Bayelsa State, the APC is fielding Sylva, also a former governor of the state.
“Does the APC expect the people of Kogi and Bayelsa states to be fooled into voting for these individuals?
“Also, the controversies trailing the primaries conducted by the so-called APC’s best hands, to produce these candidates further foreground the corruption prevalent in the party, which has also manifested in the presence of some persons with debatable reputations in the 21-man list of ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for clearance.
“Evidently, the APC has clearly established itself as a party enmeshed and thriving in corruption, even as it tries to hoodwink the public into believing that it is on a mission to fight graft in the country, a contradiction we urge all Nigerians to take copious note of.
“It has therefore become manifest that this administration’s anti-corruption agenda is dead on arrival and only applicable as a tool for witch hunt against the PDP and those holding views divergent to those of the government. Consequently, this is an open invitation by the APC to corrupt persons to join them as a party that accommodates, protects and promotes corruption in the country.
“Our joy remains that the people of Kogi and Bayelsa states will definitely reject this attempt to use immunity to cloak and protect friends and associates of the ruling party and government from further prosecution.
“It is on this note that we urge the people of the two PDP states to remain unrelenting in their support for our great party and its candidates; Governors Idris Wada and Seriake Dickson respectively, to ensure their deserving overwhelming victory at the polls.’’
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