As election results continue to flow in, showing a potential defeat for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party is reportedly pressuring the military to withdraw from collation centers.
This accusation was made by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who claims the APC is attempting to pave the way for thugs and compromised police officers to disrupt the electoral process.
Aziegbemi asserted that the APC’s move to undermine the military’s role in securing collation centers is a sign of desperation. “As expected, the results are trickling in, and we have the upper hand.
In panic mode, the APC is activating its sleeper cells to disrupt the collation after seeing signs of imminent defeat,” he stated. According to him, the APC’s alternative strategy involves calling for the termination of the election process to save face.
Political analysts have weighed in on the situation, cautioning that any disruption of the collation process could destabilize the election.
READ ALSO: Edo decides: Akpata loses polling unit to PDP’s Ighodalo
Dr. Ayodele Balogun, a political science professor at the University of Lagos, noted that “if credible evidence emerges that security forces are being pressured or manipulated, it could set a dangerous precedent for future elections, undermining the integrity of democratic processes.”
Security expert Ibrahim Idris emphasized the importance of maintaining military presence at collation centers, saying, “The military’s neutral role has been crucial in ensuring peace during the elections. Any withdrawal now could lead to chaos, especially in a highly charged atmosphere like this.”
Observers are now calling for vigilance, with PDP urging citizens and democracy advocates to monitor the process closely.