The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot return to power as the country prepares for the 2023 general election, saying the opposition party has ignored the need for genuine restitution.
The ruling party, in its 2022 New Year Message signed by the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, stressed that “PDP has nothing to offer Nigerians going by its sordid antecedents”.
Akpanudoedehe, while reiterating the commitment of the APC to free, fair and credible elections, noted that the CECPC is ready to meet up with the tasks ahead in 2022, particularly the conduct of a rancour-free APC National Convention.
The statement read in part, “The new leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shown early signs that it is not different from the immediate-past and sacked leadership of the same failed opposition party.
“Clearly, PDP’s sole intent is power grabbing by any means, as it ignores the need for genuine restitution. However, PDP cannot return to power in a free and fair election because the electorate are intelligent and wiser and know that PDP has nothing to offer Nigerians going by its sordid antecedents.
“In the meantime, we patiently await the PDP leadership to take up our challenge to return stolen public funds and assets still in possession of politically exposed persons during its 16-year administration.
“As a political party and in line with the progressive ideals APC fiercely defends, our commitment to free, fair and credible elections is unwavering. In all elections, valid votes must count and the popular will of the electorate must prevail.
“APC assures all party members and indeed Nigerians that the CECPC is poised and ready to meet up with the tasks ahead in 2022, particularly the conduct of a rancour-free APC National Convention.
“The CECPC will surely bequeath a progressive party and structure that will continue to install and entrench APC governments at all levels to put Nigeria in its deserved rank in the comity of nations. The Party will continue to proactively and constructively engage critical stakeholders on issues that affect Nigerians.”
Akpanudoedehe, while urging Nigerians to be mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the recent wave of the Omicron variant, called on the citizens to take vaccines and adhere to public health protocols to curtail the spread of the virus.
Speaking on the APC’s election promises, Akpanudoedehe assures that the party would fulfill its promises by taking Nigerians out of poverty through massive social investments, revamping the economy, securing lives and property, and ultimately tackling corruption and impunity from their root causes.
He added that the ruling party will continue to build and improve infrastructure in the transportation, power, telecommunications and agriculture sectors to further drive economic growth.
Akpanudoedehe further assured that the governments at all levels elected on the platform of the APC will continue to articulate and implement policies and programmes that will enhance the collective wellbeing of Nigerians in 2022 and beyond.
On the achievement of the CECPC in 2021, Akpanudoedehe noted that the 13-member caretaker committee led by Mai Mala Buni, who is also the governor of Yobe State, successfully conducted ward, local government, and state congresses to elect substantial party executives.
He added that the caretaker committee embarked on the move to resolve all pending and emerging internal crisis within the party at all levels to create a harmonious working atmosphere for the APC’s planned National Convention.
It expressed the readiness of the committee to conduct a rancour-free National Convention.