Your party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatened to withdraw from the peace accord in respect of the coming polls. What informed this decision?
We are a signatory to the peace pact because we believe that the election must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace, justice, fairness and equity. But what we are witnessing is that while PDP wants a peaceful conduct of the polls, our neighbours, the leadership of APC, is carrying on as if it is not prepared to honour the spirit and letters of the peace accord.
APC and the Buhari presidency are harassing members of PDP and intimidating us. They have refused to respect the rule of law, seeking to undermine democracy and subdue our constitutional rights. As a stakeholder in the political process, we came together, reviewed the situation and concluded that if the National Peace Committee cannot call this government and APC to order, we could as well review our signatory to the accord.
Kano State governor, Dr Abdullah Umar Ganduje, earlier, last week, shutdown the Kano Stadium, thereby, preventing PDP from holding its presidential rally but later rescinded his decision. How do you see the development?
Ganduje’s decision was predicated on our protest to the members of the National Peace Committee. There is a tendency with the APC-led Federal Government to appropriate public institutions as if they are their personal property. We totally reject this tendency. We were denied the use of the Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja after we had paid for the place and fulfilled all the requirements. What manner of democracy is that?
Reactions have trailed the proposed Operation Python Dance in the South-East by the Nigerian Army. What is you say on this?
Operation Python Dance at this election period is a strategy to get the military involved in the process of our election. As a party, PDP cautions the military not to allow itself to be dragged into muddy politics.
Why is your party calling for an extension of collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)?
PDP sought an extension for the collection of the PVCs in response to the wishes of Nigerians. There are too many PVCs out there that have either not been distributed and Nigerians are being denied their collection. We urge INEC to release these PVCs to the genuine owners.
How optimistic are you that your party would win the elections?
PDP is very optimistic and we are set to win the coming presidential poll and other elections. President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to deliver on his three-point promises of reviving the economy, fighting insurgency and fighting corruption. Rather than improving on the robust economy that was handed over to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, President Buhari, out of sheer incompetence, took the economy to the woods. Life, in every measure of appraisal, has gone miserable. On this account alone, majority of Nigerians will reject President Buhari at the polls.
In the area of fighting insurgency, President Buhari has failed woefully, so much that even the residents of his home state are fleeing to Niger Republic. On the fight against corruption, all you need to do is look around Mr President and the picture you find will show you if, in truth, President Muhammadu Buhari has fought corruption.
When you add these factors to the number of Nigerians that had abandoned the ship of APC, including those who would work for the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from within the Buhari Presidency and inside APC, you will agree with me that we are coasting home to victory and we shall get Nigeria working again.
Do you trust INEC in conducting a credible election?
Nigerians are more than ready to get INEC do the right thing.