The
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has accused the All Progressives
Congress (APC) government of frustrating move by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to retrieve his “stolen mandate”
through the court.
CUPP said this after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
arrested the Deputy Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign
Organisation, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN, on Monday.
Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday,
said President Muhammadu Buhari was jittery and was scared of defeat in court.
It said: “The learned Senior Advocate only went to the EFCC office in
connection to the signing of bail papers for other Atiku associates who are in
custody. The mode of his arrest and detention clearly shows it was upon a
spontaneous realization that he was a coordinating factor in the expected legal
challenge of the rigged Presidential election of 23rd February.
“Inside source within the Commission informed us that Mr. Turaki
is not being questioned by EFCC officials but by a team from the Presidential
villa who are only questioning him about the details of the petition of the
PDP. They are questioning him on the evidences the PDP has in its possession
and the location of the documents/legal Secretariat and list of witnesses.
“This is obviously with a view to storming the location, carting
away relevant papers and derailing the filing of the papers in the Tribunal
which must be completed within 21 days from the date of announcement of the
election results.
We, therefore, make bold to say that his arrest at this time was not a mere
coincidence but a well orchestrated plan to ensure that they scuttle the plan
to challenge the illegality that happened on February 23 in court by making
sure that the suit is not filed within the time-frame allowed by law.
“We have consistently been alerting Nigerians and friends of the
country on all steps being taking by this government to stop any legal means to
retrieve the mandate it stole on February 23, particularly how millions of
naira from taxpayers’ money are being doled out to individuals, political
parties and groups to continue to mount pressure on Alhaji Atiku to accept
“defeat.”
“It is noteworthy that all these harrassments and intimidations of
opposition leaders are going on without a word from the National Peace
Committee that midwifed the signing of peace pact ahead of the general
elections.
“How can there be peace where the people’s mandate was brazenly stolen? How can
there be peace when barriers are consistently being mounted against the victim
of executive theft so that he cannot seek redress in court?
“Let this desperate administration that
will lose its legitimacy on May 29 know that the eyes of the world are on this
country and its illegal
actions. Nigerians should not be surprised when documents begin to get missing from the Registry of the Tribunal or when indeed very strange things begin to happen.
actions. Nigerians should not be surprised when documents begin to get missing from the Registry of the Tribunal or when indeed very strange things begin to happen.
“There is a blank cheque for the security
agencies and they have been directed that there are no off-limits for them in
ensuring that the PDP challenge is derailed. President Buhari should make it
easy for everybody and just direct his people to announce the names of every
member of the Atiku legal team for arrest and stop this deliberate groping when
there is light.”
