PDP vows to resist deployment of military for Cross River bye-elections
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Barely 48 hours to the bye-elections in Cross River, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state says it will resist attempts to hijack the elections through the use of soldiers.
The state chairman of the party, Venatius Ikem stated this in Calabar while reacting to the planned deployment of troops for the election.
While asking members to remain calm, the party chairman said the party will use all legitimate means to ensure the right thing is done.
Ikem said, “There is a legitimate way you can deploy the army as well as illegal ways to intimidate voters.
“That directive can only come from the Chief of Army Staff and if there are reasons to deploy the army, it will be so stated and we will be briefed on the operational order otherwise you cannot deploy the army.
“We will not allow any underhand tactics to undermine an election which we are poised to win.
“While we ask our members to remain vigilant, we will do anything possible to resist the attempt to hijack this election.
“We will use all legitimate means to insist on our right and to ensure the right thing is done”, he said.
He said while the PDP is struggling to play by the rules the government in power has been working against the rules of engagement.
He also accused the APC-led administration of trying to create an atmosphere where they will be a breach of security so they can use the apparatus of government to intimidate the PDP.
