Garba Shehu: PDP has perfected plans to snatch ballot boxes

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) has perfected plans to rig the elections.

He expressed concern about those attacking the president’s
comment on ballot-snatchers.

“This sounds like members of the opposition, specifically the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have perfected plans to rig the
elections and to snatch ballot boxes,” he said.

“They can tell that President Buhari is not prepared to tolerate
their antics this time around, and they are afraid. They have shown
their intent.”

At the national caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) in Abuja on Monday, Buhari ordered security agencies to deal
ruthlessly with election riggers.

He told those plotting to hijack electoral materials that it
could be their last attempt to do so.

The president’s comment had generated different reactions, with
the PDP saying the president had given security agencies the
licence to kill Nigerians.

But speaking with state house correspondents on Tuesday, Shehu
said Buhari’s comment should be seen as a strong message against
the long history of “savagery” associated with elections in the
country.

“No one has anything to fear from the president’s comments if
their conscience and intentions are clear,” Shehu said.

“Snatching ballot boxes often entails putting the lives of
innocent Nigerians at risk. About 10 years ago, evidence was
brought before an election tribunal from one of the states in North
Central of the gruesome killing of 26 prospective voters by ballot
box snatchers. Their modus operandi is well known. They storm
election venues in commando style, overwhelm the law-enforcement
agents and seize ballot boxes leaving a trail of death and
injury.

“Anyone who dares to put the lives of innocent citizens at risk
in their desperation to rig elections, must be prepared for the
possibility of losing their own lives because our security agents
will certainly not stand by, clap for them and watch them kill and
maim.”

He added that Buhari had the safety and security of Nigerians
uppermost in mind when he made the comment, and should be praised
rather than criticised for issuing this stern warning to potential
ballot box snatchers.