- …Says Amupitan will not get away with illegality
By Lateef Ibrahim/Jude Opara
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allowing itself to be used to subvert democracy in the country.
Atiku who is now a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) spoke on Tuesday while addressing delegates to the national convention of the party which held in Abuja.
Specifically, the seasoned politician further warned that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan will not get away with his alleged deliberate manipulation of the political system to suit his ambition.
He charged members of the ADC and other concerned citizens to rally together to ensure that the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was defeated in the 2027 election.
“Therefore, it is a struggle for all Nigerians. But I will not end these remarks without indicting the chairman of INEC and INEC itself, because it is clear, it is obvious, the evidence is there. Now, INEC is being used to undermine democracy in this country. Let the federal government know that we fought the military to bring democracy in this country, and we are going to fight them to bring democracy in this country.
“Let the chairman know we are not going to let him get away with his illegalities. We will not. And I hope we will have your support and cooperation to make sure we return to true democracy, to true development in all aspects of human endeavor”.
Atiku added that with the successful national convention, every issue, every challenge, every problem confronting the country and the citizens people have been addressed.
The former Vice President also recalled how he was lured into the APC during its formation, regretting that the ruling party has worsened the challenges that faced the nation.
“What I would like to appeal to Nigerians, and particularly members of the ADC, is to make sure that this time around, we really need to change the situation in the country.
“I remember when the APC was being formed, the entire political leadership in this country came to my house.
They said, “If you don’t come into the APC, this is not going to be possible.” They literally compelled me to join the APC. Only for us to enter the APC, our economy is gone, our sovereignty is gone, our security is gone, our education is gone, our infrastructure is gone. The healthcare is gone.
“Now, people like me, we must rise and make sure that there is change, genuine change, a serious change to rectify all these challenges that are happening in the country. I am in this game. We are going to win. Because of you, the young men and women, our children and our grandchildren, this country has been good to us”.
He also warned that there will be no room for any form of corruption in the government of the ADC, just as criminals and terrorists would be given no breathing space.
