August 19, 2018
Press Statement
Ekweremadu: APC Tele-guiding EFCC, ICPC Against Opposition
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the open directive by the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to quickly conclude the investigation
and prosecution of key opposition leaders before the 2019 elections, has
further confirmed that the agencies have been compromised and are being
tele-guided by the ruling party against the opposition.
The PDP particularly draws the attention of Nigerians and the
international community to APC’s direct directive to the EFCC to drag in
Deputy Senate Ike Ekweremadu on trumped-up charges, stampede his
prosecution and put him out of circulation before the 2019 elections.
The PDP notes that it was not a mere coincidence that EFCC’s invitation
to Ekweremadu was dated July 24, 2018, the same morning his residence
and that of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, were simultaneously
besieged by EFCC operatives and hundreds of policemen, in a failed
attempt to illegally impeach them.
The series of interference by the APC in the work of the anti-graft
agencies, coupled with the August 7, 2018 siege to the National Assembly
by the Department of State Security, confirms a sinister plot by the
APC-led administration not only to arrest and detain Saraki and
Ekweremadu to illegally remove them, but also to besmear and destroy the
opposition ahead of 2019 general elections.
Being unable to find Ekweremadu wanting in its many probes, the APC now
relies on procured cooked-up allegations in a bid to get at him at all
cost.
Is it not ironical that the same government, that was quick to explain
that a serving military officer bought his Dubai property from his
savings, does not think that a former Local Government Chairman, former
Chief of Staff to Governor, former Secretary to Enugu State Government,
Senator since 2003, Deputy Senate President since 2007, former Speaker
of ECOWAS Parliament, and owner of a thriving law firm has earned enough
legitimate incomes to invest in real estate.
While the PDP is not in any way against the war against corruption in
our country, we reject the illegal use of the EFCC and ICPC as political
tools by the APC to harass, intimidate and drag down opposition members,
in their failed bid to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2019 general
elections.
Finally, we urge Nigerians to hold the APC and Buhari Presidency
responsible, should any harm befall any PDP leader as we approach the
2019 elections.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
