This was
disclosed by the Senate’s Minority Whip, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at a press
conference at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday, August 6,
2015.
The Senators,
however, lamented that the Federal Government was only targeting PDP members in
its anti-corruption crusade.
Akpabio said the
PDP Senate caucus would support President Buhari in his bid to bring about a
greater Nigeria, adding that despite its numerical strength in the upper
chamber, it has resolved to give only credible opposition necessary for a
better Nigeria and for Buhari to succeed as president.
The PDP Senate
caucus noted that though it supports the APC-led Federal Government’s crusade
against corruption, it was not happy with the impression being given that it is
targeted at PDP stalwarts and states.
Akpabio said:
“The current war lacks transparency, fairness to all and appears to be aimed at
political adversaries. It is on this ground that we condemn in particular what
is happening in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states where election umpires are
daily arrested, their families and associates hounded, and judicial officers
involved in election tribunals intimidated and questioned using trumped up
petitions bordering on corruption.
“Yet, these
officials were part of the 2015 elections that produced President Buhari, an
election adjudged to be generally free and fair by the international
community.”
Akpabio also
accused the Department of State Service (DSS) of being used to wreak havoc on
PDP-controlled states, noting that the PDP Senate caucus was shocked by the
recent development in the polity where the DSS is now involved in electoral
matters.
He condemned a
situation where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states (all PDP states) were daily
arrested, detained and questioned on politically-motivated corruption
allegations.
He said such a
development was not only worrisome but spells doom for our democracy.
“Reports reaching
the caucus has it that INEC officials are being forced by the DSS to produce
falsified documents to support APC candidates cases before the tribunals.
“This is
abominable and unacceptable. Mr. President and all well-meaning Nigerians must
intervene to preserve the independence of the tribunals and that of INEC,” he
said.