This was contained in a statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh and made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The APC had, on Tuesday, accused the PDP of luring the members of the National Assembly with millions of dollars, ranging between $1 and $2 million to defect to the ruling party.
But in a reaction on Wednesday, the ruling party denied such transaction and urged all well-meaning Nigerians to ignore APC, saying that the party was at the stage of its diminishing returns.
It, therefore, called on the federal lawmakers to insist that APC withdraw the false statement immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the nation for making such an unfounded allegation.
According to the party, “whilst we ordinarily should not dignify this sinking party, notorious for lies, deceit and propaganda with a reply, we are compelled to do so because their action is a direct attack on the basic fabric of our democracy.”
According to the statement, “all well-meaning Nigerians are, indeed, worried by statements and actions of the APC which are clearly aimed at destroying our democracy and plunging the nation into chaos. By alleging that lawmakers were being financially induced, the APC seeks to cast doubt in the minds of Nigerians regarding the integrity of duly elected persons, politicians and the entire democratic institution.
“It is a clear sign that it has exhausted all its strategies and now seeks to cover its premature boast of majority in the National Assembly. The APC celebrated too early. They have played all their cards and displayed all their tactics well ahead of the contest. Theirs is a case of engaging in a marathon race as a sprint; a football team celebrating its mere appearance in the pitch far before the beginning of a match. Now, they are weary and tired while the contest is yet to begin,” it added.
The statement said there was no doubting the fact that the PDP, under its new national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, was reaching out to all its members, including those that defected, in a reconciliation drive already yielding dividends.
“We are not surprised about the flurry of defections and return to our fold. The PDP remains the only national party while APC is quasi-national. The PDP is the only political party with a consistent structure, vision and achievements in the transformation of Nigeria since 1998.
“The APC is a cacophonous amalgam of tribal and religious irredentists with no known vision or achievements in its earlier metamorphosis.
“We are expecting more defections to the PDP. We have consistently told Nigerians that the PDP would emerge from its challenges a stronger party and this is what we are witnessing,” it added.
Reps probe bribery allegation
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, mandated its committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe the allegation by APC, which accused PDP of using public funds to lure back some of its defected lawmakers.
At the plenary session on Wednesday, a member from Rivers State, Honourable Kingsley Chinda, through a motion, protested breach of his privilege and called on the House to investigate the matter thoroughly.
He argued that the allegation of money inducement for political gains, as alleged by the APC spokesman, was against the integrity and image of the lawmakers before the electorate.
While Honourable Chinda was moving his motion, members from both APC and PDP engaged in a shouting match, with PDP members shouting “they should provide proof, they must prove it!”
The Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, without allowing further debates on the issue, referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges and gave the committee two weeks to report back to the House.
Source: Tribune
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