National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adamu Mu’azu, has expressed confidence in the ability of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to preside over the conduct of free and fair elections, in spite of the party’s suspicions over the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs).

In restating President Goodluck Jonathan’s position on the ability of Jega to ensure a free and fair election, Mu’azu, at a press conference in Abuja, on Thursday, said the party was confident that the INEC boss would deliver.

He, however, advised the electoral body to utilise the period of postponement of the election to correct what he said was the lopsided distribution of PVCs in favour of the opposition and advised all eligible voters to collect their cards.

This came as he warned the opposition politicians and their supporters in the North to desist from intimidating PDP supporters campaigning for the re-election of President Jonathan.

He said Nigerians had the right to choose those who would lead them and, therefore, should not be prevented from freely exercising their choice.

Speaking specifically on the postponement of the election, he said INEC was not ready to conduct it in the original scheduled dates, going by the challenges it faced in the distribution of the PVCs.

He observed that by its own account, “INEC could not sincerely claim to have been fully prepared for a desirable credible, free and fair election at the time, when more than 23 million registered voters were going to be disenfranchised.

“Nigerians embraced the idea of PVC as a model to facilitate credible elections and not as instrument of disenfranchisement.

“Indeed, we have noted the reactions that trailed this postponement, particularly the very subjective statements from opposition leaders, alleging that our great party and the government masterminded the postponement to favour the PDP.

“Rather than join issues with the opposition in some of these needless and unsubstantiated utterances, we want to use this press conference to urge for a neat and positive campaign devoid of lies, propaganda and incendiary statements.

“The truth is that the postponement has, in no way whatsoever, conferred any particular advantage to our party and our candidates. Instead, it came with an attendant loss of time and resources and delayed our celebrations of electoral victory, which, with the support of Nigerians, we would have started savouring by Saturday.

“However, this temporary setback, rather than dampen our spirit, will be a catalyst to propel our members to consolidate on the milestones already gained by our campaigns and goodwill among Nigerians.”

Mu’azu said in the next six weeks, the PDP would continue to patriotically engage in issue-based discussions with Nigerians on the party’s values, manifesto and roadmap for a more prosperous future ahead of the March 28 and April 11 rescheduled dates.

“Our confidence for victory is derived from the fact that we have an array of very credible candidates, which Nigerians are eager to vote for. Also, our standard-bearer, President Jonathan, with his humility, performance and verifiable record of achievements, has stood himself out as the leader best suited for our country at this point in our national life,” he noted.

Also speaking at the press conference, Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, rejected insinuation that governors elected under the party in the North-West and North-East were working for the election of APC presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

Akpabio, who is also the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, said the rumour was part of the opposition’s propaganda to deceive the people.

He said the governors were united in their commitment to return President Jonathan to the Presidential Villa in the coming election, recalling that they were he first group to endorse Jonathan for re-election, because of his record of achievement in office.

“That is part of the mischief of the opposition, that is the rumour. It is falsehood, it is baseless, it is evil. It is also scandalous. I must advise that we should campaign based on issues and not mislead Nigerians.

“The PDP governors across Nigeria have resolved to return President Jonathan to Aso Villa. This is fact and that was why the PDP governors endorsed the president for a second term in office.

“We took cognisance of his track record and the fact that in the last four years, no president has achieved the level of what he has achieved across the country.”

Akpabio enumerated some of Jonathan’s key achievements, especially in the northern part of the country, where he observed that he had built 12 new universities and provided schools for almajiris, in order to prevent them from being lured into unwholesome activities.

“I want to advise those who want to win elections by all means to try to eschew bitterness and the idea of violence. They should strive to stop this mindless propaganda. No PDP governor is working for the opposition and all of us are going to deliver our states to the PDP,” he said.

Among those present at the press conference were the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Governors Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Taraba State acting governor, Sani Danladi; deputy governors of four states and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.