National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to succumb to what he said are plots by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led Osun state government to have the scheduled July 8 Osun West Senatorial bye-election postponed to a favourable date for the APC party.

Sheriff gave the advice in a statement issued by his acting spokesperson, Mr Bernard Mikko, on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, PDP’s attention had been drawn to “subterranean efforts” of the Government of Osun to precipitate the postponement of the by-election from July 8, to a preferred and pre-determined date.

Ali Modu Sheriff

“We are therefore constrained to warn that any attempt to yield to the antics of undemocratic forces using spurious or fake security report as an excuse will not be tolerated.

“Nigerians are sufficiently enlightened to understand the antics of desperate politicians that may want to use their privileged positions to undermine our electoral process and put our democracy in peril.

“The legitimacy of our leaders is hinged on a credible, fair and transparent electoral process.

“Once the confidence of the electorate is lacking in the electoral umpire, our hard earned democracy will be in jeopardy,” he said.

He also urged them to ensure that all stakeholders played by the rules and refrain from changing the goal post at the middle of the game.