*Atiku’s desperation about winning shows Obasanjo-led PDP coalition has something to cover up, Nigerians back Buhari against opposition
Another source however carpeted the PDP and its candidate over their comment on the so called tension buildup in the country saying, “There is no tension buildup anywhere except the inciting statements by Atiku and his party, PDP particularly Femi Fani-Kayode who had called on him to order a nationwide civil disobedience and form a parallel government”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied making any demands of the President, following his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the Presidential election.
In a statement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of an attempt to blackmail the party.
The PDP Spokesman however could not explain what the Chairman of National Peace Committee (NPC) General Abdulsalami Abubakar meant when he said he had met President Muhammadu Buhari and had presented to him the message from its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP states categorically, without mincing words, that Atiku Abubakar had not, and will never make or accept any condition from President Buhari regarding the rigged February 23, 2019, Presidential election, which he (Atiku) clearly won.
Insisting that the PDP was not ready for any form of negotiation with anybody on the outcome of the election, the party said.
“Our party and candidate remain committed to the huge sacrifices made by Nigerians in ensuring our collective victory as delivered at the polling units across the country.
“We are mindful of the pains that Nigerians are passing through since the subversion of their will at the polls; we are sensitive to the expectations that millions of compatriots place on our shoulders in this struggle and we will never let Nigerians down.”
According to Mr Ologbondiyan, the PDP has “the authentic results from all the polling units” and evidence of manipulations to present before the election tribunal, insisting that nothing would deter it from pursuing the matter to its end.
Although the Peace Committee, like it did when he led former President Goodluck Jonathan to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, continued to enshroud the content of the message it said brought from Atiku to President Buhari for peace to reign, many revelations continue to trickle into the public space of what the message entains.
Like the equally shrouded purpose of leading Jonathan to the Villa in 2015 was said to be that the committed had prevailed on the President not to continue with his anti-corruption fight and not tough Jonathan considering his “willing” conceding of power, this of Atiku to the Buhari is said to be a six-point demand.
A source said: “After the peace committee visited him, Atiku told them to deliver his 6-point demand to Buhari. If met, he will not pursue a court case.”
The source continued: “He demands the unfreezing of the bank accounts of opposition politicians. He insists that going forward, accreditation of voters must take place before voting in elections. He insists INEC must open up its back end server to all participating parties. He demands that the FG should realease all politicians detained ‘illegally’. He demands an end to the deployment of the military in subsequent elections, and that, Atiku also threatens that there is tension and unrest building up in the land because of the elections.”
Another source however carpeted the PDP and its candidate over their comment on the so called tension buildup in the country saying, “There is no tension buildup anywhere except the inciting statements by Atiku and his party, PDP particularly Femi Fani-Kayode who had called on him to order a nationwide civil disobedience and form a parallel government”.
He said, “Why does he (Atiku) not just demand that President Buhari steps down now and have him sworn in as president?
“His so called list shows his running was about the self interest of the political class who want the EFCC off their backs.”
He then called on President Buhari saying he should “not listen to this peace committee stuff anymore. That’s how GEJ has also avoided investigation based on the peace committee agreement in 2015,” he said.
