Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says any plan to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State; Southeast Nigeria is a ploy to rig the November 6 gubernatorial election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the main opposition party has insisted that the federal government maintain peace in Anambra without declaring a state of emergency.
This was in reaction to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, that a state of emergency may be declared in Anambra to improve security in the state.
Anambra has been the target of gunmen in recent weeks, leading to the loss of lives and properties.
Malami during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, said the federal government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens.
The Attorney-General of the Federation said, “As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.
“And you cannot rule out the possibility of a declaration of a state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties, and democratic order.”
PDP spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan said the federal government could maintain peace in Anambra without declaring a state of emergency.
The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to perish every contemplation of imposing a state of emergency in Anambra state ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
“The PDP holds that the reported move to foist an emergency rule in Anambra state is a ploy by the APC-led government to suppress the people, manipulate the process and rig the governorship election for the APC and its candidate.
“Our party demands that the APC and its administration should come clean on their roles in the sudden rise in insecurity in Anambra state ahead of the election.
“This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra is contrived to heighten tension in the state so as to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC.
“The PDP insists that the Federal Government has the capacity to ensure peace in Anambra before, during, and even after the election if it so desired. We, therefore, invite President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to be guided accordingly.
“Our party also charges the people of Anambra state to remain calm and alert as well as take steps within the ambit of the law to resist plots by the APC to derail the electoral process in its inordinate ambition to seize Anambra through the back door.”
