By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday said that it was not plotting to postpone next month’s general elections as alleged by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

President Goodluck Jonathan

According to the party, APC made the allegation to divert the attention of Nigerians on the findings of the Department of State Services, DSS, which indicted it for trying to hack into INEC’s data base, clone the Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, and ultimately compromise the outcome of the elections.

The party further said that its Presidential candidate, Goodluck Jonathan was far more popular than the APC’s, candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), adding that it had nothing to fear about the forthcomin polls.

These were contained in two separate statements yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.

PDP is fully ready for the polls

Metuh noted that as a party, it was fully prepared for the polls against the backdrop of the goodwill the party enjoyed among Nigerians from the ward to the national levels which would translate to victory.

According to Metuh, nothing can be more evident that the APC was not preparing to face the electorate than the frivolous and unfounded allegations and use of propaganda in an effort to hoodwink Nigerians even in the face of clear proof of culpability.

Metuh said: “The PDP is fully ready for the coming elections. Our leaders and members are working hard in all the nooks and crannies of the country leveraging on our existing grassroots appeal, wide-spread political structures, a track-record of performance and abiding affinity and loyalty to the people.

“We have very popular and acceptable hard working candidates which the people are anxious to vote for. Our Presidential flagbearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, with verifiable achievements and commitment to national unity remains the candidate the beat.

“We have engaged on issue-based campaigns. We have effectively shown Nigerians that we can be trusted. Our amiable leader, President Jonathan has demonstrated strength of character, sincerity of purpose in his handling of state affairs and Nigerians are desirous to demonstrate their support for him come February 14.

“The PDP has successfully communicated its unique selling points and achievements to the electorate and a greater majority of Nigerians are now able to distinguish between facts and mere propaganda, which is the hallmark of the APC.

“Our advice to the APC is that instead of engaging in distortion of facts and propagating of lies and blackmail in an attempt to score cheap political point, they should explain to Nigerians their apparent involvement in efforts to undermine INEC records with a view to corrupting the electoral process.”

Jonathan better than Buhari on performance rating

In his second statement, Metuh said Jonathan’s performance rating was higher than Buhari, as the former head of state, had no legacies to show for his tenure in office.

According to him, Buhari cannot boast of any development project in any sector of the economy during his regime as head of state.

His words: “Buhari is not and cannot be a match for President Jonathan. He lacks team spirit, a principal component of public private partnership critical for national development, a character his colleagues in the military rejected and kicked him out of office.”