PDP Caucus Backs Southern Governors On Power Shift

PDP National Assembly Caucus has supported the push for power shift in 2023 by Southern governors.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly Caucus has supported the push for power shift in 2023 by Southern governors.

The governors under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) met on Monday in Lagos, South-West, Nigeria, on electronic transmission of election results and state police.

The Caucus, at a press conference in Abuja, FCT convoked by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, described the alleged move to remove electronic transmission of results from the Electoral Act amendment report as “unpatriotic and mischievous.”

Abaribe said the move to tamper with that critical component capable of guaranteeing the transparency and credibility of the electoral process would subvert the democratic process, institutionalize rigging, bastardize and frustrate genuine efforts towards credible elections.

Abaribe reiterated the Caucus’ backing for power shift in an sms to The Nation’s correspondent.

Abaribe said: “After due consideration and extensive deliberations on political and security situation in the country, the Joint PDP National Assembly caucus unanimously upholds the resolutions of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) in vehemently rejecting the clandestine moves to manipulate and alter the Electoral Act to remove the electronic transmission of results from the law.”

“Electronic transmission of results is the only way to eliminate malpractice and manipulations associated with manual collation of results, including alteration, switching and disappearance of election materials while on transit to various collation centers.

“The Joint PDP caucus is already taking very strong and uncompromising steps to ensure that the provision guaranteeing the electronic transmission of result is not tampered with in any form whatsoever.

“On security, the Joint PDP Caucus reaffirm our unwavering support for the establishment of state police as well as other measures adopted by the governors to ensure the security of lives and property in the respective states, including those curtailing unauthorized movements and occupation of forest areas.

“We also affirm the demands by governors, that as chief security Officers in the states, they must be duly informed before any security institution undertakes any operation in their states.

“The Joint PDP Caucus, also lends full support to the demand by our governors that deductions from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the states and Federal Government to combat security challenges.

“These resolutions by the governors, regarding security does not offend but rather reinforce genuine efforts towards guaranteeing adequate security of lives and property given the current situation in our country as a federation.

“We call on governors, lawmakers and critical stakeholders from other regions to support these patriotic initiatives of the Southern Governors’ Forum in the interest of security of lives and property in our dear nation.

“As a Joint Caucus, we have set up very strong machinery to ensure that, in the interest of justice and fairness, the percentage of share of the oil revenue to the host community does not fall below expectation.

“The Joint PDP Caucus commends the Southern Governors’ Forum for the continued patriotic stand in always proffering solutions on critical issues bordering on the security, stability, as well as economic and political well-being of our dear nation at all times.