THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has chided former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for calling on Nigerians to ditch the party in 2023.
In an interview yesterday, Jega enjoined Nigerians not to trust either the PDP or the ruling All Progressives Congress with power come 2023 because they both failed when given the opportunities to serve.
He said that both political parties had been tried and had failed to deliver over the last 20 years.
Jega likened both parties to Siamese twins on the issue of corruption, noting that the Nigerian nation would be better off with a credible alternative platform which the Peoples Redemption Party offers.
The former INEC helmsman said, “The bad things these parties committed in those past years, Nigerians should never give their trust to the parties again. It is now very clear that these parties would never change, even if they are given another chance.”
Jega said, “The APC and PDP have formed governments; we were all witnesses. They did not come with a good intention to make amends. If you look at the fight against corruption, all these corrupt people that were supposed to be prosecuted, they sneaked into the APC.
“We are hearing nothing. That is why I’ve since registered with the People’s Redemption Party. I am now a PRP member looking for ways to help Nigeria.
He said, “Since 1979, I’ve been teaching in the university, for 40 years now. So, from what I read and observed, when I was chairman of INEC, honestly, the way I see our politicians conducting elections and from the manner they represent their people when elected, honestly it is something to be afraid of.”
But in reaction yesterday, the PDP in a statement titled, ‘PDP to Jega: APC and Buhari Failed Nigerians, Not PDP… says comparison a provocative disservice to Nigerians:, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted Jega’s claims.
“The PDP cautions former chairman of the INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, not to further infuriate Nigerians by trying to dry-clean the rudderless, inept and debauched APC, despite the unbearable devastation the APC has brought to our nation in a space of six years.
“The PDP asserts that trying to compare the incompetent and decadent APC to the highly productive and development-oriented PDP is an unpardonable disservice to our nation and calls to question the sense of judgment of Profession Jega.”
