The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for engaging in what it describes as “endorsement shopping” ahead of the 2027 elections.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, highlighting that the APC’s efforts to garner support through various means reflect a clear failure of governance.

Recently, various organs within the APC, including the Progressive Governors Forum, the National Working Committee, Zonal Leadership, and even some opposition leaders, have endorsed President Tinubu for a second term.

In response, Ologunagba stated that PDP leaders are committed to delivering a successful National Convention, set for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a critical step in preparing the party to effectively challenge and defeat the APC in the next election.

He further stressed the need for immediate electoral reforms, including the real-time transmission of election results, to guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections in 2027.

Ologunagba stated, “The reason for ruling party’s early campaigns is because the APC, President Tinubu, are jittery about the recalibration and the fact that a PDP that is well known to Nigeria, doing what it knows how to do best, which is reconciliation, getting people together, working together and giving everybody a sense of belonging, and that’s why the APC. The outcome of that is they now calibrate to a new level where what they do is to get panicky and begin to do what I call endorsement shopping. The President and APC are looking for endorsement.

“If indeed the President is doing well and the APC is succeeding, you let your work speak for you. You don’t want to say come and endorse me. So it is panic mode. The fact is that they’re not doing well, they have failed, and they recognize that Nigeria truly knows that this APC has failed the country.

“But thank God the PDP is back, fully set, taking the November 15 and 16 national convention as its platform to launch itself back to Nigeria, and Nigerians are waiting eagerly, and that’s why each time we speak, they’re excited. They are anxious to get us back to where we are.

“So the panic mode of the APC government at present is a sign of a failed government. That you know that your policy is not working, and you say, let’s spin it, let’s gas and slide it. This is not working because Nigerians have seen through it. So all the endorsements, all the shopping endorsements. Let your work endorse you. Let your achievement endorse you.”

Ologunagba stressed that Nigerians must be able to freely express their will through the ballot in 2027, adding that this can only be guaranteed with necessary amendments to the electoral process.

He continued, “We want votes to count, be counted, and reflect the wishes of the people. The only body responsible for ensuring this and safeguarding democracy is INEC, which must provide a legal framework. There should be an electoral amendment to mandate the transmission of election results from polling units to the portal in real time, making manipulation difficult.

“From all available evidence, there appears to be institutional manipulation of the electoral process. Today, people running private businesses can use POS machines to buy and withdraw cash anywhere in the country. Bank ATMs also work virtually everywhere, handling massive volumes. So, why is it that an ATM card works in a remote village, but the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) doesn’t?

“That appears to be deliberate institutional manipulation. If POS machines at polling units work without issues, yet BIVAS with backup batteries, experiences glitches at the same location, it strongly suggests manipulation by INEC. Nigerians are now fully aware of these tactics. BIVAS, iREV, and other INEC technologies must be institutionalized and supported by law.

“We as a party are going to take the charge. Nigerians will not listen to any story about a glitch. There must be none because the infrastructure in the country today can support electronic transmission of results. INEC should be on notice that 2027 election must be seamless, it must be free, fair, transparent and there must be no glitches because as a party, we will lead the charge in this country to ensure that the process is credible and that any attempt to abridge the rights of Nigerians to choose their own leaders, of course, will be resisted.” (The PUNCH)

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