The presidential Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu says the Akwa-Ibom government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are endangering democracy by the way it is treating Senator John Akpanudoedehe, the ACN gubernatorial candidate in Akwa-Ibom State who is currently standing charges of treason, murder and arson.
The presidential Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu says the Akwa-Ibom government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are endangering democracy by the way it is treating Senator John Akpanudoedehe, the ACN gubernatorial candidate in Akwa-Ibom State who is currently standing charges of treason, murder and arson.
Ribadu who broke a campaign programme in Yola to address the media in Abuja said targeting the opposition appears to be major strategy of the PDP and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to go beyond his rhetorics of a clean and fair election to ensure that the process is also fair.
“The process is as important as the very act of voting and we must realise that election is beyond voting alone,” said Ribadu who asked Nigerians to be vigilant about their votes.
Ribadu said he is not impressed with the way the Akwa-Ibom judiciary appears to have become a pawn of executive will by abusing the concept of hierarchy of courts.
“The Akwa-Ibom governor is a lawyer who ought to know better but for his government to frame charges, go about fishing for evidence, and produce an innocent victim to charge is both depressing and shameful the presidential candidate remarked.
Ribadu also addressed rumours that he stepped down from the race and that he was recently shot dead.
Giggling, he said “what they cannot secure by the electoral process they should not seek to covet by back door means.”
“I hear this always, I even know the opposition elements peddling this rumour. I want to say it is an act of desperation and however hard it is, we must not wish ourselves dead.”
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