CUPP alleges plan to frame-up Atiku, Saraki, Melaye

The Coalition of United Political Parties on Thursday said it
has uncovered an alleged plan by the Federal Government to
implicate the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in a case of alleged gunrunning and
perpetuating electoral violence.

It claimed that the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki;
Senator Dino Melaye and other opposition leaders are also targeted
in the plot.

The coalition’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, made the allegation
in a statement made available to journalists.

He said, “Elements of the ruling party have commenced the
branding of some vehicles with the colours of the opposition
bearing the photos of these opposition leaders and have acquired
arms which will be hidden in the vehicles and the vehicles will be
driven to join the campaign convoy of the opposition consensus
candidate in Kwara, Kogi and Adamawa and other parts of the country
where they have also selected.

“The vehicles will eventually be searched by the police and the
arms recovered.

“Their plot will include mobilising thugs and causing violence
on the day of such recovery so as to tag the opposition as
violent.

“The APC leaders are aware Nigerians now know them for their
violence which has trailed their campaigns nationwide.

“Their internal crisis and ‘grab-power-by-all-means’ attitude
have catalysed their rejection by Nigerians and they desire to
break all the laws to cast the opposition in bad light.

“On poll day, part of their plot include also to use more of
these branded vehicles loaded with thugs to disrupt voting and
collation in
some centres and blame the opposition for violence and disruption
of the process which will lead to mass arrest of opposition leaders
to give the ruling party advantage to rig and deny the people the
opportunity to give their preferred candidates their mandate.”

Ugochinyere said a special security unit being coordinated by a
minister had already been set up and has commenced work to execute
the plot.

He added, “The security agencies are hereby put on notice that
Nigerians will not accept any breach of security being orchestrated
by elements of the ruling party disguised in whichever form they
choose.

“Nigerians are put on notice to be watchful and vigilant to see
through the evil plans of the ravenous group of rulers we have in
our country today. They should not be deterred. Their songs of war
and plot to rig the elections will be resisted. APC is already in
morbid fear of losing elections and all their shenanigans are like
the last futile kicks of a dying horse.”

The opposition spokesman also called on Nigerians to remain firm
and resolute “as there are yet many members within the ruling party
and in very high positions that are fed up with the government and
daily supply us with relevant leaks and information to counter all
their evil plans.

“A lot more of the information are being utilised quietly to
neutralise them. This government has failed and Nigerians are no
longer in doubt that they are going out on February 16.”