By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The All Progressive Congress (APC), in Plateau State, yesterday came down hard on the People’s Democratic party (PDP) in the State, accusing the PDP of making an inciting and irresponsible statement that could throw the state into another round of crisis.
The APC said since the PDP won the March 18 governorship election in the State, its publicity secretary, John Akans has been making inciting statements capable of setting the State on fire.
The PDP had recently told the Judiciary to watch and monitor the proceedings when the election Tribunal will commence up to the supreme court.
Responding, the APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Sylvanus Namang said the call is an open threat to the Judiciary.
According to him: “This open threat and blackmail of the judiciary should not be treated with levity by the appropriate authorities.
“The very desperate emperor and violent wing-wing of the PDP in Plateau has started waging war on innocent citizens of the State over fear of the unknown.
“It is rather sad that of late, this particular wing of the PDP in the State has as part of its diversionary and scare tactics, chosen to paint an apprehensive picture of violence and ungovernability of the State if the Election Tribunal rules otherwise.
“What a reckless way of denigrating and smearing the image of the judiciary which is not only a hallowed temple of justice but the last hope of arbitration for the common man.
“The PDP had, out of its usual disrespect for the judiciary, tried to malign the integrity of the highly – revered and accomplished Jurist and President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Bolna’an Mensem CFR, a well respected daughter of Plateau State has, throwing caution to the wins in a sheer desperation and needless apprehension.
“Also in their present confused state, they have tried to divide the ranks of the APC in the State by attacking the party’s campaign council spokesman, Shittu Bamaiyi and our very reputable gubernatorial candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda who is patiently and waiting unperturbed to retrieve his mandate through legal means via our judicial system.
“We simply laugh when on one side, the desperate and confused PDP is using all sorts of sentiments, including the GOSA one which both the APC and PDP gubernatorial candidates belong, for our candidate to withdraw his case from the tribunal and on the other side, referring to his petition as empty and shadow chasing!
“On this we just want to say that time shall tell and in no distant time from now we shall know who owns the mandate of the people”.
Namang continued: “In all the foregoing, what we can easily decode from John Akan’s utterly irresponsible press conference is the party’s macabre dance, a dance of the death. If not, how can somebody who claims to have won an election be so afraid of facing the tribunal?
“As a party, the APC in Plateau State sees the soon to begin Tribunal sitting in Jos as a most welcome development. As part of the electoral process, it is also an avenue for testing the integrity of the General Elections in the State.
“As a Law abiding Party, we shall do everything humanly possible not to undermine the process but to ensure that the Tribunal operates in a very hitch- free and peaceful manner”, the statement said.