APC's undue interest in Jega is questionable -- PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again questioned the relationship between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, challenging the opposition party to explain its huge interest for Jega to remain in office. This is coming after some APC senators said on Thursday that they would oppose any attempt to unseat the INEC Chairman, alleging that the government was already planning to force him on terminal leave next week.

A statement released on Saturday, by the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling party, Chief Olisa Metuh, dismissed the claims noting that “the APC has continued to fabricate stories and show undue interest in Jega,” raising suspicions that the opposition party has an alliance with the INEC chairman.

“Undoubtedly, the frenzy, hysteria and spate with which the APC has been inventing stories regarding Jega’s stay in office even when nothing suggests that such was on the table, raise a lot of issues,” he said.

“We ask, is there any underlining issue or arrangement between APC and Jega, which the opposition is hell-bent to protect, informing its anxiety and apprehension towards his stay in office?

“While it is noted that the APC is a party of one week, one lie, we in the PDP look beneath the surfaces to the deeper issues propelling the lies. We therefore challenge the APC to come out clean and tell Nigerians the real reason behind their false alarms and uncontrolled nervousness regarding Jega ahead of the 2015 general election.

“Finally, we wish to remind the leadership of INEC that Nigerians are monitoring its activities and series of unfolding political events ahead of the elections, and will not accept anything less than the conduct of credible, free and fair general election come March 28 and April 11, 2015.”