The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Tuesday revealed alleged plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano for allegedly refusing to bow to pressure to take sides in the forthcoming supplementary governorship elections in Kano and Sokoto states.
Disclosing this in Abuja, the CUPP, in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said that the coalition has once again intercepted credible intelligence of a fresh plot by APC chieftains in Kano and Sokoto with the full support of the party leadership against the Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano.
“We are alerting Nigerians of the plot and threats by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress to depose the revered Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano for refusing to bow to pressure to take sides in the upcoming supplementary governorship elections in Kano and Sokoto states.
“The grouse of the leaders of the ruling party is that the respected traditional rulers refused to intervene and interfere to galvanise support for the sinking APC in Sokoto and Kano states.
“Leaders of APC are accusing the monarchs of allegedly taking sides with the Peoples Democratic Party and hence they have hatched a plot that if the traditional rulers do not help them to win the people’s support and they succeed to manipulate the election, that they will dethrone the respected traditional rulers from the thrones of their forefathers,” the coalition said.
CUPP, however, said that APC allegation against the Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano is a lie, adding, “We make bold to say that this is a lie from the pit of hell.
“The Emir and Sultan are rather appealing for calm and for the will of the people to be respected.
“Their position is what the APC leaders think is aiding the opposition.
“Leaders of the ruling party are boasting and threatening that if they win, they will force them out by setting up state House of Assembly panel to indict them of corruption and force them out using presidential support.
“They are also considering the use of the CJN option against these respected monarchs.
“This move to drag the sacred stools of the forefathers of these two states is an invitation to full blown anarchy.
“We are warning the APC leaders to back out of this nonsense for the good and stability of the entire country.”
“The move to militarise Sokoto and write figures from selected polling units has been perfected like they did in Rivers State and we must stand up against that.
“We called on the people of Kano and Sokoto states to not just vote, but vote and defend their votes for their future and the preservation of the stools of their forefathers.
“They must also arrest and grab any vote buyer at polling units using the Opposition Code 20 powers of private arrest.
“The APC government should not try with rigging because the tension is higher than that of 1983 and any of such move will spell doom for our democracy. Our final advice for them is to allow the will of the people to prevail.”
