PDP rejects call for poll shift

The Peoples Democratic Party has restated its readiness for the February general elections.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone in Abuja on Sunday, insisted that the ruling party was not behind the calls for the shifting of the elections.

Jalo said since the party had yet to release a statement on the call for the postponement, it would be wrong to assume that the party was not ready for the February 14 presidential election and others coming after that date.

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.), recently asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to shift the elections by at least one month.

His call had elicited several condemnations, even as the commission said it was ready to work ahead with its timetable.

The All Progressives Congress had alleged that the ruling PDP was not ready for the elections and was looking for the extension to shore up the image of its Presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jalo however denied the allegation, saying the ruling party was seriously preparing for the elections.

He said, 'The PDP is ready for the elections and we will do everything possible within the law to go to the elections and win.

'Have you received any statement from us saying that the elections must be postponed or that we are not ready for it?

'We have organs of the party like the Board of Trustees, National Caucus, National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee. Has any of these met to say we should shift the elections? The answer is no! So, we are ready.'

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in a statement said the party was ready for the elections.

He said with the support the party enjoyed from Nigerians, it would record a sweeping victory at the polls.

Metuh, in the statement, said leaders and members of the party were working hard across the country, adding that with its record of achievements and array of popular candidates at all levels, the PDP would win overwhelmingly in not less than 25 states of the federation.

He said, 'We wish to restate that the PDP is fully ready for the general elections. We remain the only party enjoying the support of majority of Nigeria's voting population across board.

'Our very strong political structures in all the states, a track-record of performance and array of very popular candidates at the national and state levels who Nigerians are eager to vote for guarantee us a sweeping victory at the elections.' Punch