The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly rejected allegations of document forgery linked to its primary election guidelines, a claim circulated by certain media platforms.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the reports as deceptive, asserting that they were propagated by discontented individuals allegedly acting as operatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to manufacture controversy and discredit the PDP’s internal processes.
As tensions within the party continue, reports from two national newspapers indicated that some PDP leaders and officials were invited by law enforcement for questioning over purportedly falsified party documents.
Ologunagba clarified that the PDP’s primary election guidelines, duly sanctioned by the party, remained intact and had not been tampered with as alleged.
Part of the statement reads: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to sensationalized and inaccurate reports from certain media quarters insinuating that its primary election guidelines have been altered through forgery.
“The PDP categorically states that its primary election guidelines, as approved by the party, have not been subjected to any form of manipulation or falsification, contrary to the misleading narratives being peddled.
“It has come to our notice that these deceptive reports stem from certain embittered individuals, working as proxies of the All Progressives Congress, who are desperately attempting to stir controversy, tarnish the credibility of the PDP’s electoral framework, and subject the party to public disgrace.
“Our party is appalled by the extent of desperation displayed by these individuals, allegedly operating with the backing of a high-ranking APC official who has persistently vowed to dismantle the PDP in order to establish an autocratic and suppressive one-party dominance to the detriment of democracy and the Nigerian people.”
Reaffirming its resolve, the PDP vowed to resist any coordinated attempts by anti-democratic forces to destabilize the party, weaken opposition, and undermine democratic governance.
The statement continued: “The PDP is also aware of these schemers’ involvement in inciting disputes within some party chapters, as well as their use of intimidation tactics, threats, and police harassment against party officials, staff, and members.
“Our party strongly condemns the disgraceful attempt by these desperate actors to manipulate law enforcement agencies and a magistrate’s court in Abuja to interfere in party affairs, despite legal precedents, including Supreme Court rulings, that clearly establish that the selection of party candidates is an internal matter beyond judicial jurisdiction.
“The PDP remains unwavering and will continue to resist any ploy by anti-democratic elements attempting to fracture our party, suppress opposition, erode democratic principles, and impose an authoritarian political order against the collective will of the people.
“Our party assures all members and supporters that the primary election guidelines remain intact and have not been compromised by any form of forgery. These false reports should therefore be disregarded.”