The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba at a press conference on Sunday said there are indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is attempting to influence the tribunal judgement in favour of its candidate, Bola Tinubu. He did not provide evidence to back the allegation.

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Mr Ologunagba claimed that some leaders of the APC are inducing members of the panel sitting on the presidential election tribunal with “heavy financial inducement.”

“More alarming are allegations in the public space of attempts by certain APC leaders to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement and to orchestrate trumped-up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers,” he said.

The PDP spokesperson challenged leadership of the ruling APC to speak on the allegations if they are not guilty.

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“The PDP calls on the APC and its leaders to immediately come clean and publicly address Nigerians and the world on these disturbing allegations and revelations which are already in the public domain.”

Mr Ologunagba also said it received credible information that some youth who opposed the planned transitioning of power to Mr Tinubu were being harassed, threatened and attacked.

He noted that the continuous intimidation of youth is evidence that Nigerians do not want a government controlled by the APC.

“The PDP also alerts of recent intimidation, harassment, threats and vicious attacks by APC leaders against Nigerian youths and eminent Nigerian personalities for speaking out against APC’s planned moves to install a government that does not enjoy the mandate of the majority of Nigerians as expressed at the Polling Units.

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“The alleged planned onslaught by APC leaders on eminent Nigerians and our democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, stems from APC’s apprehensions given the weight of evidence against it as well as the continuing refusal by majority of Nigerians to accept the outcome of the flawed Presidential election.

“There are apprehensions in the public space, having regards to the reputation of certain individuals within the highest level of the APC who have demonstrated capacity and proclivity to compromise democratic institutions in our country.

“Further to this is the provocative resort by the APC and its leaders to threaten Nigerians with treason for speaking out against the manipulations of our democratic processes by the APC”

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“For emphasis, majority of Nigerians are insisting on the review of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election because it was marred by wide-spread manipulations, open alteration of genuine election results from the Polling Units, allocation of fictitious figures to the APC and brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC Manual and Guidelines by INEC itself in its declaration of a winner of the election.”

Mr Ologunagba also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being corrupt.

He said the INEC under the leadership of Mahmood Yakubu is corrupt for requesting that the petition filed by presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, be dismissed.

“The bizarre response by INEC, which is an umpire that ought to be independent, to the Petition of the PDP and our Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, requesting for the dismissal of our petition, is further evidence of the complicity, corruption and compromise of INEC by the APC.

“It is instructive for INEC and the APC to note that the tribunal hearing is part of the electoral process. The APC and INEC are therefore advised to halt further steps to hinder the ability of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dispense justice in the matter in accordance with the law.

“It is imperative to state that the reckless violation by INEC of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Manual in the 2023 Presidential election portend grave consequences to our democracy and political stability as a country.

“The only way to guarantee peace, unity and stability of our nation is to uphold the Will of the people as expressed at the Polling Units in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election and the PDP is confident in the ability of the Judiciary to discharge its Constitutional duties in this regard independently,” he said.

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