The Katsina State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday to disqualify the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Bola Tinubu.
Sani Litti, the state Chairman of the NNPP, made the call at a press conference in Katsina on Monday, alleging that the two parties’ presidential primaries were marred by financial crimes.
He also requested that Tinubu and Atiku be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Services.
Litti claimed that 50,000 Nigerians had died as a result of banditry since 2015.
As a result, he demanded the resignation of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), citing the country’s insecurity.
The chairman also charged members of the National Assembly with starting the impeachment process against the President if he refused to resign.
He also called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, and Sokoto states due to security concerns.
Litti advised the Federal Government to hire mercenaries for six months to fight bandits, insurgents, and tribal militias, adding that the government should then recruit one million young Nigerians to be trained as special forces to secure the country after the mercenaries leave.
“We reinstate the call for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign immediately for his inability to secure Nigeria,” he said. Insecurity issues continue to rise, owing primarily to poor governance, poor economic policies, a drop in people’s standard of living, an increase in ethnic militias, an increase in corruption activities, crime and criminal activities, an increase in drug use, and other factors.
“If the President refuses to resign, we urge the National Assembly to use constitutional means to protect Nigerians’ lives and property.”
The Nigerian government should declare a state of emergency on security in the following states as soon as possible: Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, and Sokoto.
“In this regard, we urge the Federal Government to immediately hire mercenaries for six months from whenever to combat rising banditry, insurgency, and tribal militias.” Similarly, the government should urgently recruit one million young Nigerians to be trained as Special Forces to protect and secure the country when the mercenaries leave in six months.”
The NNPP also demanded the arrest and prosecution of Atiku and Tinubu for what it claimed happened during the conventions where they were elected standard-bearers for their respective parties in the 2023 general elections.
The NNPP stated, “We call on INEC to disqualify Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the presidential election in 2023, as well as the EFCC, Police, and DSS to arrest them and all other actors who participated in the convention.” We believe that if either of these two candidates wins the election next year, the country will descend deeper into corruption and financial crimes because the process that produces them is corrupt.”
Dr Muttaqa Darma, one of the party’s chieftains at the press conference, justified the timing of the press conference, insisting that it was the appropriate time as the nation prepared for general elections.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu Campaign Organisation’s Director of Media and Communication
When contacted, Bayo Onanuga, the Director of Media and Communication for Tinubu Campaign Organisation, stated, “I have not seen any petition to that effect from the NNPP.” I also believe the APC publicity secretary is in a better position to address this issue.”
In addition, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated, “I have not read the NNPP’s call for the disqualification of our party’s candidate.” You may forward the statement or press release to me. I can’t react to something I haven’t seen.
“If I read the statement and decide it is important enough to respond to, I will issue a statement to address it.” Responding to you is not my only option; I can call a press conference tomorrow and deal with it if I believe it is that serious.”
When contacted, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba stated that he was not aware of the NNPP’s allegation and that he needed to see Litti’s statement before responding.
