The Peoples Democratic Party says the open directive by the All Progressives Congress to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to quickly conclude the investigation and prosecution of key opposition leaders before the 2019 elections, has further confirmed that the agencies have been compromised and are being tele-guided by the ruling party against the opposition.
The party stated this on Sunday in a statement issued to the press and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noting that the ruling party, APC wants to use the trial against the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, to make him lose the 2019 election.
It said: “The PDP particularly draws the attention of Nigerians and the international community to APC’s direct directive to the EFCC to drag in Deputy Senate Ike Ekweremadu on trumped-up charges stampede his prosecution and put him out of circulation before the 2019 elections.”
The party stated that it was not a coincidence that EFCC’s invitation to the Ekweremadu was dated July 24, 2018, the same morning his residence and that of Saraki were simultaneously invaded by EFCC operatives and lots of policemen, in a failed effort to illegally impeach them.
It said: “The series of interference by the APC in the work of the anti-graft agencies, coupled with the August 7, 2018 siege to the National Assembly by the Department of State Security, confirms a sinister plot by the APC-led administration not only to arrest and detain Saraki and Ekweremadu to illegally remove them, but also to besmear and destroy the opposition ahead of 2019 general elections.
“Being unable to find Ekweremadu wanting in its many probes, the APC now relies on procured cooked-up allegations in a bid to get at him at all cost.”
The party further pointed out that if the government can support and understands that a serving military officer could afford to buy his Dubai property from his savings, why should it find it difficult to understand that Ekweremadu, been a former local government chairman, former chief of staff to governor, former secretary of Enugu State, a senator since 2003, and a deputy senate president since 2007 and owner of a flourishing law firm can earn legitimately to invest in real estate?
It further pointed out that the PDP is not against fighting corruption but is against using the EFCC and the ICPC to “weaken” the electoral value of the opposition and urging Nigerians to hold the APC and the presidency responsible if any harm befall any PDP leader.
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