Disagreements between the PDP and the APC over matters of national interest escalated Wednesday.
Both parties which are fighting on all fronts as part of the build up towards 2023 are stepping up efforts at controlling public opinion in respect of the confirmation of Lauretta Onochie.
The Senate has only recently confirmed Mrs Lauretta Onochie, a former aide of President Muhammadu Buhari as a national Commissioner of INEC.
While the PDP led a coalition of protesters, including civil society organizations to demonstrate at the doorstep of the National Assembly, the APC said through the Secretary of its National Caretaker Committee that the ruling party does not have the DNA for rigging elections like the PDP.
Prince Uche Secondus who was at the head of protesters said they were at NASS to ask parliament to reverse an earlier clearance issued by the Senate to the former presidential aide.
Secondus expressed concern that Onochie’s appointment would undermine the democratic process and lower the confidence that Nigerians have in INEC.
The Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe assured the protesters that their complaints shall be delivered to the leadership.
Fresh from the field where it welcomed the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Metawalle into its fold, the APC said more Nigerians are turning their support in favour of its people – oriented policies and programmes.
It urged Nigerians to disregard the allegations of the PDP, saying its claims were neither cogent nor verifiable.
James Akpanudoedehe of the APC dismissed the frantic claims of the PDP, emphasizing that his party has no record of election rigging.
But he noted that throughout its 16 years in power, PDP earned a reputation for stealing votes cast by the masses until the electoral revolt spearheaded by Nigerians which led to its defeat in 2015.
The PDP has been at the receiving end since the new wave of defections in the country began.
Three Senators Wednesday left the ranks of the PDP for the APC. They were senators from Zamfara where the Governor has overnight become the leader of the APC.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila also received two federal lawmakers from Cross River State who have decided to go along with their State Governor, Ben Ayade who left the PDP for the APC.
On the whole, the PDP now has 13 elected governors while the APC which is Nigeria’s ruling party has 22.
From every indication the PDP is shrinking badly. The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan said he hoped that there would be enough senators left on PDP’s side of the aisle in the Red Chamber.
Many within the opposition party, including the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, are blaming the development on the performance of the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
They are insisting it is time for the “Total Chair” as his admirers call him to leave Wadata House for his home state.
A loss for Secondus may translate to a win for Wike. Supporters of Secondus vow the National leadership of the party would soldier on.
Kola Ologbondiyan, Spokesman of the party in opposition said Secondus is going nowhere.