Vice President Kashim Shettima has mocked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its online membership registration, claiming it’s been flooded with fake identities.
He launched attack on the opposition party’s demand for real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying: “The same Alliance for Democratic Confusion that was adamant that we must have electronic transmission of votes opened their portal for membership registration, and it was overwhelmed by an avalanche of fake names and fictitious identities”.
However, the registration exercise has been greeted with several incorrect details, including fake names, National Identification Numbers and mismatched photographs, raising concerns about the integrity of the process.
In a statement on Tuesday, ADC said it had corrected observed anomalies on its digital membership registration platform following widespread reports of fake entries.
While speaking on Wednesday during an interfaith breaking of fast attended by federal ministers and hosted by President Bola Tinubu, Shettima claimed that the party’s registration portal had been overwhelmed by fictitious entries.
“The same Alliance for Democratic Confusion that was adamant that we must have electronic transmission of votes opened their portal for membership registration, and it was overwhelmed by an avalanche of fake names and fictitious identities,” he said.
He accused the opposition of peddling falsehoods and spreading misinformation about the policies of the Tinubu administration.
“You and I know that, as Winston Churchill once said, ‘truth is so precious that it must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies’. Lies, lies, lies — that is what is driving the opposition in this country,” he said.
Shettima also called on political officeholders to defend the policies and achievements of the current administration as the next election cycle approaches.
“Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the political season is around the corner. We are all political actors. We have to sell our government. We have to stand behind our administration,” he said.
Shettima added that the ruling party is now in a stronger position than it was during the 2023 general election.
“Politically speaking, we are in a more comfortable position now than in 2023,” he said.
Shettima further dismissed claims that state governors were being pressured to defect to the ruling party.
“Nobody is coercing the governors of Rivers, Delta, Kano or any other state to join the APC. It is of their own volition because they have seen the light,” he added.
