Romanus Ugwu, Abuja and Joe Effiong, Uyo
National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Enoidem, has described as a military coup, the alleged plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to deploy federal might to win the forthcoming general election in Akwa Ibom State.
There have been allegations of security agencies colluding with the APC to detain or plot to incarcerate PDP top shots in Akwa Ibom State, in order to put them away till after the elections.
The PDP has even gone to court to sue not only the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, but, also, the APC.
But, Enoidem told Daily Sun that anybody plotting to bringing in security operatives to arrest and detain people, in order to win election is contemplating a military coup, rather than election; and that it is an act of cowardice for anyone who had benefitted from the state in the past to think of causing crisis to achieve electoral success
He, however, stressed that deploying federal might is a mind game since the opposition knows they do not have the numerical strength to win election in the state.
Enoidem debunked allegation that PDP is importing militancy, adding that as a party that is solidly on ground for the past 19 years, there is no need to bring in mercenary for election.
However, the APC state Chairman, Ini Okopido, has severally denied the allegation that the party is importing militants and other hoodlums to cause mayhem in the coming elections.
He said: “We are concentrating our efforts in mobilising Akwa Ibom people to vote for APC. Nobody is thinking of evil. If they are planning evil, it will go with them because nobody in APC is thinking along that line.
“They’ve been going about destroying our bill boards and doing all sort of things. All we are interested in is to take over power. Of course, they know we are mobilising towards that. If PDP is planning that kind of thing that is their business,” Okopido said.
Meanwhile, the APC has accused the PDP of continued discrediting of state institutions and elevating falsehood to an ignoble height.
A statement from APC’s party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, alleged that the PDP has invented one lie after the other, to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.