Fresh revelations have emerged about the sinister maneuverings of the ruling PDP elite prior to Professor Attahiru Jega’s declaration of General Buhari as Nigeria’s democratic leader. Informed sources indicated that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) planned to abduct Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) chairman Professor Attahiru Jega and there distrupt the whole declaration process.
Sources claimed that there was an alleged plot by some of incumbent President Jonathan allies to abduct Professor Jega, on Tuesday, March 31, to prevent him from announcing the results of the presidential elections. Crucial to the plan were Professor Jega’s security detail and Elder Orubebe, who was desperate to prevent him from declaring General Buhari the winner of the elections.
The report said that as General Buhari was inching closer to become Nigeria’s next president, an aide to Professor Jega sent a text message to an independent voting monitor, warning of an imminent threat to the electoral process. This aide had unearthed a plot by President Jonathan’s supporters to disrupt the public announcement of the national election results and kidnap Professor Jega in a bid to wreck the count, according to reports from a pro-democracy advocates and an Abuja-based diplomat.
Apparently, Elder Orubebe and some other PDP leaders feared a change of power would mean an end to the corrupt money they enjoyed under the Jonathan presidency. Elder Orubebe’s role was to cause a disturbance at the headquarters of the commission as cover for the abduction of Professor Jega.
It is unlikely that President Jonathan would have been involved in the plot himself, but the actions of his supporters could have created mayhem. Although the abduction of Professor Jega would not have changed the results, it could have unleashed fury among General Buhari’s supporters in northern Nigeria where over 800 people were killed in rioting after his last election defeat in 2011.
As tallies from around the country showed that General Buhari was on course for a win, unidentified PDP hardliners started to panic, seeking ways of manipulating the count. Realising they could not engineer an outright win, PDP agents set about doctoring the tally at collation centres in pro-Jonathan areas to ensure General Buhari failed to meet a requirement for 25% in two thirds of the states, according to human rights activist Clement Nwankwo.
He added that as General Buhari’s lead grew, some PDP supporters led by Elder Orubebe, decided on a final gamble to create a disturbance in the collation hall and have thugs snatch Professor Jega from the stage. According to Mr Nwankwo, Professor Jega’s security detail was approached and asked to stand down but they refused to, demanding written orders.
