PDP Warns Anti-Party Groups against Interfering in Campaign

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that, under the leadership of Sen. Iyorchia Ayu and the Atiku/Okowa presidential ticket, it is unafraid of certain schemes of certain anti-democratic elements that aim to sow discord and interfere with the party’s events in Kaduna State on Monday.

The PDP claims that individuals behind this conspiracy are uneasy and dissatisfied with the party’s stability and popularity, as well as the success of the ongoing reconciliation efforts.

“Our Party’s position is predicated on information at our disposal of how these anti-party elements which are not happy with the campaign successes achieved by the National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu and other Party leaders, have concluded plots to orchestrate tension and create an impression of crisis within the PDP by recruiting thugs to protest and disrupt scheduled programmes of the PDP in Kaduna State, tomorrow, Monday, October 17, 2022.

“The PDP has information of how these individuals, who were frustrated by the huge success of the PDP Presidential Campaign Flag-Off in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State capital last Monday, are bent on creating a situation to discredit the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally scheduled for tomorrow in Kaduna State.

“These anti-party interests plot to stage a protest tomorrow in Kaduna State with unfounded allegations, claims, and selfish demands aimed to embarrass the National Chairman as well as discredit the integrity and decisions of top organs of the Party, including the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT).

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP is undeterred and standing shoulder to shoulder with the good people of Kaduna State who are set for our Presidential Campaign Rally, which will hold peacefully in Kaduna State on Monday, October 17, 2022,” a PDP statement partly read.

The party asserted that Nigerians support Atiku Abubakar and the PDP because they are united in their objective to rescue, rebuild, and redirect the country from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The PDP salutes and appreciates the people of Kaduna State for the overwhelming reception that they have accorded our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other Party leaders who have been in Kaduna State in the past two days ahead of Monday’s Presidential Campaign Rally.

“Our Party implores all members, our teeming supporters and the public to be on alert, note and resist these unpatriotic elements whose heinous plots can cause a breakdown of Law and Order, undermine our democratic processes and derail the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.”

The PDP urged the security agencies to act quickly to put machinery in place to thwart any attempt by an individual or group to interfere with the party’s plans, especially in light of the potential consequences for the nation’s democratic system and corporate existence.