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The Peoples Democratic Party has denied allegations of forgery concerning its primary election guidelines, as reported by some media outlets.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP described the reports as misleading, alleging that they were instigated by disgruntled individuals acting as agents of the All Progressives Congress in an attempt to create a scandal and undermine the integrity of the PDP’s internal processes.
As the crisis within the PDP persists, two national newspapers (not The PUNCH) reported that some party leaders and officials were summoned by the police for questioning over alleged forgery of party documents.
Ologunagba clarified that the PDP’s primary election guidelines, as approved by the party, had not been altered in any way through forgery, contrary to the claims in the reports.
The statement partly read: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to sensational and misleading reports in a section of the media suggesting that its primary election guidelines have allegedly been compromised by forgery.
“The PDP states in clear and unequivocal terms that its primary election guidelines, as approved by the party, have not been compromised by forgery in any way, contrary to the claims being peddled in these reports.
“The PDP has, however, become aware that these misleading reports are the work of certain resentful individuals who, as agents of the All Progressives Congress, are desperately seeking ways to create a scandal, discredit the integrity of the PDP’s internal processes, and bring the party into public ridicule.
“Our party is shocked by the level of desperation displayed by these individuals, reportedly acting with the backing of a top official in the APC administration, who has repeatedly vowed to destroy the PDP in order to entrench a totalitarian and oppressive one-party system in our nation, to the detriment of Nigerians.”
The PDP reaffirmed its resilience and commitment to opposing any efforts by anti-democratic forces to destabilise the party, weaken opposition, and undermine democracy.
It continued: “The PDP is also aware of the involvement of these disgruntled individuals in inciting disagreements within some party chapters, as well as their intimidation, threats, and police harassment of party officials, staff, and members.
“Our party is appalled by the scandalous and reprehensible attempt by these desperate individuals to drag the police and a magistrate’s court in Abuja into the party’s internal affairs, despite rulings from various higher courts, including the Supreme Court, which have established that matters concerning the nomination of candidates for elections are strictly internal affairs of political parties, over which the courts have no jurisdiction.
“The PDP remains strong and undeterred, and will continue to firmly resist any onslaught or machination by anti-democratic forces seeking to destabilise our party, suppress opposition, undermine democracy, and impose an oppressive one-party regime against the will of the people.
“Our party reassures all members and supporters that its primary election guidelines have not been compromised by forgery, and such reports should therefore be disregarded.”