The African Democratic Congress has said that President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission and various security agencies are colluding to circumvent the people’s will as demonstrated by their massive votes for the joint presidential candidate of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The party, in a communique read by the National Publicity Secretary, Yemi Kolapo, at the end of its National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, said, like most Nigerians, ADC members believe that the people voted Abubakar for president.
It said: “ADC shall continue to give unalloyed support to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Joint Presidential Candidate of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in his quest to reclaim his mandate.
“Like most Nigerians, members of ADC believe that the people voted for him (Atiku) to be President. President Buhari, INEC and the various security agencies are merely colluding to circumvent the will of the people. This cannot stand.”
The party, however, noted that its strategic goals were not met because “Nigeria’s democracy is tragically challenged.”
According to ADC, there was collusion between the All Progressives Congress Federal Government and INEC to cheat and deliver results scripted from the Presidency.
The communique, signed by the National Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, and National Secretary, Alhaji Said Abdullahi, reads in part: “The government in power promoted violence, and used the Police, military, other intelligence agencies and thugs to terrorise innocent citizens and pollute the electoral space. There was heavy commercialisation of the process, which involved vote buying, inducement of electoral officers and adhoc staff, and other forms of electoral corruption by the incumbent federal and state members of the Executive arm of government.
“The cause of Democracy was thwarted and the people were denied the right to exercise their mandate. The Nigerian public and international observers are witnesses to the desperation of the Presidency and state governors, and the abuse and corruption of the entire process. As a political party, we abhor fraudulent electoral practices. That is why we were the only party that set up an organisation to address such vices – Coalition for Electoral Integrity (C4e-Integrity).
“As a party, we are committed to driving credible and transparent elections using the C4e-Integrity as a campaign and learning vehicle. We believe this is the best way for our country Nigeria. We congratulate all ADC members-elect, who won elections to serve at the National and State Assemblies. We are going to celebrate them and expose them to the best parliamentary practices so that they will give exceptional representation, and be the stellar leaders that will give impetus to our democracy. A formal reception and seminar will hold in Abeokuta on a date soon to be decided.”
The party also commended its incumbent National Assembly members, stating that they did not lose elections but the Nigerian system lost.
It said: “We also honour and commend the incumbent Senators, House of Representatives members, and State Assembly members. These persons were deliberately targeted by the establishment to lose election and to stop ADC from growing to become the Nigerian and African model party.
“The above persons and all other distinguished, honourable, and patriotic gentlemen and ladies who contested elections under the ADC party platform are heroes and heroines and their efforts will not be in vain. All of you did not lose election, the Nigerian system lost.
“It is no longer news, for example, that Senators Monsurat Sunmonu, Adesoji Akanbi, Abdul-aziz Nyako, Olufemi Lanlehin, Patricia Akwashiki, and all our other incumbent members, both at national and state Assemblies, were specifically targeted by the President Buhari and APC government, who worked in collusion with INEC and other government agencies to manipulate the systems to deny our party and candidates victory.
“We are not a violent party and our candidates are men and ladies of high honour. We are not in doubt that some of our Senators and honorable members will win their cases. As a party, we may have been fraudulently beaten, but ADC vows to remain the sterling political party that is values-driven.”