PDP accuses DSS of interfering with election tribunals

 The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has alleged that the Director-General, State Security Services, Mr. Lawal Daura, is using his office to interfere in electoral matters currently before some elections petition tribunals.

The party further alleged that Daura had even invited some security chiefs and some members of elections petition tribunals with the aim of interrogating them.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

When contacted, the spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, simply said she has no comment on the allegation.

Metuh said members of the National Working Committee arrived at this decision after their meeting in Abuja.

He said, “The National Working Committee of the PDP has uncovered plot by the newly-appointed DG, DSS to intervene and interfere on political issues, especially tribunal matters.

“In that regard, the NWC has been made aware that the new director general of DSS has even invited some people in relation to Rivers tribunal and other states in trying to discuss “such matters with tribunal members.

“The PDP alerts the national and international community that this is gross interference in democratic affairs and that it can lead to authoritarian regime.

“The PDP decries attempts to enthrone draconian regime where security forces and other apparatus of the ruling party will decide to be influencing election matters and outcome on behalf of the ruling party.”

Metuh also said that his party was not happy with the dissolution of validly elected local government councils in Plateau and Katsina states.

The two states are being governed by the All Progressives Congress.

He said the councils were dissolved by the affected state governments without any court judgment.

Metuh said that in Rivers State which is being governed by the PDP-led government and where councils’ chairmen and councillors were also sacked, the action was taken as a result of a court judgment.

He said, “You will recall that in Rivers State where we had a valid court judgement, the police interfered and stopped the PDP from taking over control of those councils.

“However, in Plateau and Katsina states where they did not have any court judgement but went ahead with a unilateral nullification of elections and dismantling of democratic structures at the local government level in both states, the police have aided and abetted them in truncating the tenures of duly-elected officers.”

Copyright 247GISTNG.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from 247GISTNG.

Contact: EDITOR@247giSTng