A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Kaduna State and organising secretary of the campaign team that brought the immediate past governor of the state to power, Namadi Sambo, in 2007, Engr Namadi Musa, has sensationally revealed how the party rigged previous elections in the state.

Sambo is the current Vice-President of Nigeria.
Musa made the revelation at Arewa House in Kaduna while delivering a paper titled: “Credible Leadership for Good Governance: Beyond Regional and Ethno-Religious Sentiment,” at a one-day interactive session tagged “Countdown to 2011 General Election,” organized by the Initiative for Moral Rebirth in Nigeria.

Musa, who is still a member of the PDP, however said he decided to reveal the dirty past of the party because he was now a reformed individual and was no longer willing to participate in rigging in future elections.

But he contended that even though the latest voters registration exercise had reduced the PDP’s chances of rigging by over 60 per cent, the party would still win the presidential poll. But he was silent on what would become of the party in the April governorship election in the state.

Musa, who is now vice chairman of the Political Committee of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, further said: “I am in PDP; I like PDP and I will be in PDP but the party is bad.

However, I don’t want us to completely blame PDP for Nigeria’s woes because since 1999 the party has always co-opted members of other political parties in the running of the affairs of the country. Therefore, the political arrangements we have in the country have contributed in no small measure to Nigeria’s problem.

“But let me say that the recent registration exercise has reduced our chances of rigging by over 60 per cent. I say so because most Nigerians now have the statistics of how potential voters registered. So inflating the number, which is one of the many ways we rigged, has been reduced.
“Historically speaking, PDP has never won in Kaduna North, Sabon Gari and Zaria councils. But we have about 13 ways of rigging. One of them is by increasing our votes without tempering with the votes of the opponent.

“For instance, if on the voters register the number of registered voters is 100 and at the end of election in a polling unit we scored 20 while the opposition scored 80, all we do is to tamper with the register by increasing the number of registered voters to 400 and award all the 300 votes to the PDP. By so doing, we have not tampered with the votes of the opponent but we have increased ours. But, like I said, it is unthinkable to try this method in the forthcoming elections because most people have the figures now.

“Another one is to use the opposition party to rig itself out. We use this method especially in strongholds of the opposition to rig them out. We monitor such polling units and approach the opposition party agents, who unknowingly will play along with us. If say in a polling unit the opposition recorded 300 votes while PDP had 20, we just say: “This PDP people are useless people, we even hate them. Take our votes, add it to your candidate’s own so that the number will increase.”

The agent will be happy, thinking we are helping them. Once we start collating, we will raise eyebrow to say number of those who voted is more than the number of those who registered. And you know one vote more than registered number of voters will lead to automatic cancellation of the results. This is why most times you hear that results of polling units where ordinarily the opposition would have won would be cancelled. So once those cancellations are made, it gives us upper hand.

“But I will not do that again. Allah is my witness. May He forgive me for the ones I have done in the past. I will not be party to it this time around. We have to say the truth for the sake of our tomorrow. Politics provides the direct key to heaven or hell fire. So politicians have a choice,” the PDP chieftain added.

On the presidential poll, he was emphatic that President Jonathan would win, not because he likes it but, according to him, it is based on the present realities on ground, even as he called on the opposition to prepare for 2015.

“For 2011, it is all over because we (PDP) will win. In the past, say 1979, Nigerians voted for party. But these days, it is individuals that are being voted and not party. I like (Muhammadu) Buhari but CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) is not in any way different from the PDP. If Buhari leaves the CPC today, the people will follow him.

So that shows you that it is about individuals and not about party. I pray Buhari becomes the President but it is unlikely. The truth is that I will be happy if Buhari wins, because it will force the PDP to go back to the drawing board, where we will now sit down to address our problems. But it will not happen.

“I see Buhari’s party as a northern party and his winning the northern votes alone cannot make him President. If the merger between the CPC and ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) had worked, PDP would have been finished. It is not realistic for ACN to have dissolved into the CPC. So if Buhari wins the North, he won’t get the spread.”

Asked if it was morally right for him to remain in the PDP, considering what he referred to as the ungodly things himself and the party had been involved in in the past, Musa responded: “Morality is a relative term. When Sheik Gumi was alive, he once said it would be nice to have a Muslim as the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, and people said ‘haa!’, and he continued by saying as long as he would reduce the quantity of beer produced. So you can remain in a place for the purpose of reforming the place or to further wreck the place, which is one.

“Two, during the PDP presidential primary, some Mallams were preaching in the mosques that people should collect Jonathan’s money but ensure they do not vote for him. Is that morality?” he asked rhetorically.

Source : http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/mar/27/national-27-03-2011-001.htm

As "revealing" as this confession appears to be, i wonder how much he was paid to make this "confession" considering the fact that elections in Nigeria is determined by who rigs the most. Something tells me he was short changed along the line and this is his way of paying the PDP back in their own coins.

Funny people.

Presidential Election 2011 is a done deal even in a free and fair process. He may have known what transpired backstage hence his conclusion. It is not just about rigging.

“For 2011, it is all over because we (PDP) will win. In the past, say 1979, Nigerians voted for party. But these days, it is individuals that are being voted and not party. I like (Muhammadu) Buhari but CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) is not in any way different from the PDP. If Buhari leaves the CPC today, the people will follow him.

And that's the whole truth. Those who keep screaming PDP are just being mentally lazy. CPC is already 90% ex-PDP (disgruntled pro-zoning folk) and if by some long shot CPC wins the election, all Nigeria's criminal will join it. Our problem is the system.

^^^ So u say the system has a problem?

Challenge now is, how do we solve the problem? PDP has been at the helm of this system for 12 years now. Why don't we try someone else and see if change will come? Why should we knock out CPC and other parties if we have not given them a chance of changing a system even u agree is faulty? How can we expect change if we keep doing the same thing over and over again?

13 ways of rigging Election The guy only mention 2, abi I no fit count again?

In fairness to Beaf, he has never defended d righteousness of PDP. His argument has always been abt individuals and ideologies.

Now, my proposition towards a "final solution" is dt may PDP loose massively in ds election. Ds will force d hawks and opportunists away into other parties, at least for d time being. PDP will b forced to restrategise frm point of disadvantage to act credibly wt d strenght of its brand popularity to regain public trust. It will also giv d oppositions advantage to build up in spreaf and resources to stand formidably in d next major contest. Thus, making it their (ruling opposition) fight to loose based on d new yardstick; performance and credibility. This will set d stage for more responsible, virile and progressive oriented politics of d immediate future.

But still, in my opinion, if PDP looses, it may only come back stronger, better and refined. It may just b d party for d future.

But for now, it is a nest of vipers and every other villains!

proudly9ja:

^^^ So u say the system has a problem?

Challenge now is, how do we solve the problem? PDP has been at the helm of this system for 12 years now. Why don't we try someone else and see if change will come? Why should we knock out CPC and other parties if we have not given them a chance of changing a system even u agree is faulty? How can we expect change if we keep doing the same thing over and over again?

The issue of bad governance has nothing to do with PDP, but everything to do with our inept elite. Without fundamental restructuring, you will only get the same old people back, cos they'll simply decamp and take over the new party (ask Buhari whose CPC has been captured by ex-PDP pro-zoning people).

I repeat that our problem is the system, you can't try the same old trick and expect a different result. Currently, I tend more to PDP, because its the only party thats reforming, and I expect that process to accelerate after the election madness when there will be no immediate need for anybody's help.

homerac7:

In fairness to Beaf, he has never defended d righteousness of PDP. His argument has always been abt individuals and ideologies.

Now, my proposition towards a "final solution" is dt may PDP loose massively in ds election. Ds will force d hawks and opportunists away into other parties, at least for d time being. PDP will b forced to restrategise frm point of disadvantage to act credibly wt d strenght of its brand popularity to regain public trust. It will also giv d oppositions advantage to build up in spreaf and resources to stand formidably in d next major contest. Thus, making it their (ruling opposition) fight to loose based on d new yardstick; performance and credibility. This will set d stage for more responsible, virile and progressive oriented politics of d immediate future.

But still, in my opinion, if PDP looses, it may only come back stronger, better and refined. It may just b d party for d future.

But for now, it is a nest of vipers and every other villains!

Thanks for the bolded.

As for PDP reforming if defeated, that will not happen. Instead, there will be mass defections of the same old faces into the ruling party and since they have much more money and a powerful grassroots machinery, they will take it over affairs long before the new govt can settle in, and the shyte will continue. I would rather have a thinker with deep reformist and progressive ideas (like GEJ) in charge. The reason is simple, GEJ has no choice, but to continue deep reforms of PDP, or be swallowed; as soon as PDP is reformed, the smaller parties will have little choice, but to follow suit or disappear into nothingness. An example is the way in which party primaries were carried out this year, PDP's were totally transparent, creating a standard that no party will fall below in the next four years.

Positive change will be better delivered in small increments through the application of diplomacy, tact, patience and wisdom; rather than a wooden frontal assault that will definitely lead to violence.

To be ernest with you guys whichever reform you are talking about either at the National level of parties must come from PDP if you think that desperate opposition can offer you anything good my dear make una forget am.

the confession is a national salvation for the ex-rigger.

Oh please,I thought Bakare was formerly a pastor,why is he now sponsoring people to fabricate lies on nthe pages of wack newspapers

Beaf:

I would rather have a thinker with deep reformist and progressive ideas (like GEJ) in charge. The reason is simple, GEJ has no choice, but to continue deep reforms of PDP, or be swallowed; as soon as PDP is reformed, the smaller parties will have little choice, but to follow suit or disappear into nothingness. An example is the way in which party primaries were carried out this year, PDP's were totally transparent, creating a standard that no party will fall below in the next four years.

Positive change will be better delivered in small increments through the application of diplomacy, tact, patience and wisdom; rather than a wooden frontal assault that will definitely lead to violence.

Hear GEJ "“Our opponents have done a very good job of reminding the populace of the challenges that are still facing the country but many of the solutions they proffered are hopelessly inadequate. Some of them seem they want to turn back the hands of the clock and take us back to methods that have failed repeatedly because they have not really assimilated investors demand and the new global focus on good governance”, the president said.

“I will clear any vested interest that stands in the way of quick policy implementation and rapid economic transformation. This is my message to the private sector, both formal and informal. This is also my message to all investors, both local and foreign. We will work with you and partner with you to make Nigeria to work”.

Where is the 13 methods?

Jonathan will be making history, surely, this April 2011. But the kind of history he will be making is what I cannot figure out for now.
GEJ/PDP are loosing Presidency big time and all events of the last few days show they have started the rigging plans. An attempt to rewrite people's will (this time around especially in the North and SW) will cataflame d already delicate entity called Nigeria. I see him, possibly ending-up as the last President of a united Nigeria, therefore effectively bringing to past the US intelligence prediction of the end of the Nation.

On the other hand he has the option to be remembered for fighting gallantly and loosing honourably then handing over to the people's choice for change.

There is nothing wrong if GEJ wins a free and fair election where but anything short of this potent danger for the clueless mind. We are going to help him loose and leave. We are mobilising all the real-time technology at our disposal to monitor election all over the country. People can easily send videos and pictures of violence, polling unit result sheets, ballots hi-jacking and peaceful conducts from their phones and it will be available worldwide in a jivy.


[size=24pt]Vote Buhari-Bakare 2011[/size] for the future of our children

Interesting ! So, is anyone going to get arrested for the illegal riggings? Or is this another case of 'The man is born again so he does not need to pay for his crimes against us if established'?

ROTFLMAO @ "born again".

OMG!! Nigerians never cease to amaze me with their choice of vocability.

bookmarked for reference