Opposition parties and their presidential candidates on Wednesday berated the Peoples Democratic Party for its refusal to sign the reviewed code of conduct guiding campaigns and behavior of candidates for the April general elections.
The Congress for Progressive Change and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties said the PDP’s rejection of the code of conduct was a testimonial to its do-or-die approach to elections.
“It is in their character and that is why they are not keen on signing the document. Their do-or-die posture in approaching election matters is manifesting itself with this behaviour. The voters should note what is happening,” the spokesman for the CPC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), Mr. Yinka Odumakoin, said.
Forty-six political parties had on Tuesday signed the code of conduct jointly drafted by the Independent National Political Parties and the Inter-party Advisory Council. The council consists of all political parties.
While 46 parties signed the code, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Abubakar Baraje, who represented the PDP at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday refused to sign the document. Baraje said he had no mandate of his party to sign the document.
Criticising the PDP, Odumakin said the ruling party was responsible for the lawlessness in the country.
“It is the PDP that is responsible for the impunity in the land. We will however not pressure on INEC to force the PDP to sign, but we will do that to the electorate to take a definite stand by voting out the PDP in the April elections” he said.
Also, the presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said he was surprised that the PDP as the ruling party did not sign the code of conduct.
Ribadu, who spoke through the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organization, Ibrahim Modibo, said, “If it is true that the PDP did not sign the code of conduct at INEC, then we are amazed that the party has taken this route.
“Electoral integrity comes on a shared agreement on the conduct of election. We hope the President who has advocated for a clean election will call his party to order.
“The party cannot promote the feeling that it has a conduct different from that of INEC which is the statutory agency to regulate the election.” Ibrahim Modibbo said.
The CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the PDP as the ruling party should be laying good examples. “They (PDP members) have demonstrated that they believe in do-or-die politics. Their refusal signals dangers ahead. What have they got nothing to showcase in the last 12 years. There are no new refineries, no new roads and teaching hospitals,” he said.
PDP through its national legal adviser,Chief Olusola Oke still maintains that the party is not under any obligation to sign the document, " It is not compulsory", he said.
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God! What kind of a killer party is this, refusing 2 sign d code of conduct; pls save us 4rm them, by helping us remove dem 4rm power 4 ever. AMEN...
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