The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Monday described the outcome of the governorship election in Edo State as another rape on democracy in Nigeria.
The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, stated in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, that the election betrays a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot.
Ajayi expressed disappointment that all the evidence of irregularities and manipulations was not captured by the electoral commission, saying the election was a complete sham.
He said, “Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared result by INEC; they know that the PDP won that election, and this is a shame on those who sit atop our affairs.
“It is disappointing that INEC could disregard the electoral law by shifting the collation of votes in the designated Local Government Collation Centres to its Headquarters in Benin; this is expressly against the electoral law.
“We also condemn the role of the Police AIG who led the operation halting collation and its relocation to INEC Headquarters indeed led the coup against democracy in Edo State; it is a shame on him and the institution he represents.”
He, however, said, “In Ondo State, we have taken due cognisance of these dastardly acts committed by agencies saddled with the responsibilities to provide level playing grounds and sadly failed to live up to expectations; it is a shameful act that lowers the status and respect due to Nigeria in the committee of nations.
“However we are prepared to ensure that rules will be followed in our election, which comes up in November, we need to underscore that we will not acquiesce or take kindly to any act geared towards compromising votes in our election.
“We state emphatically for all to see and hear that Ondo is not Edo; our attitude, understanding, and patience differ; we will vote and protect our vote here.
“We are resolved to give everything to ensure that the electoral desires of our people will command attention and attain the desired goals.
‘As they say, politics is local, in Ondo State, the people are already protesting against the hardship imposed on them by the APC government, they are protesting against hunger, lack and want, Ondo State people are protesting against the high inflationary trend that has denied them not only the future but even the present.
“In Ondo State, we are already protesting against a Party, the APC and a government that has institutionalised hardship, penury and poverty, and our protest day is the 16th of November, We thus sound a note of warning to those whose trade is the compromise of ballot that danger looms if they seek to tamper with our votes.
“Nigeria is either a democratic nation or not, for us, we won’t have a parody of election here, votes must count here. Let the APC and its rigging headquarters in Owerri begin to realise that now.
“We warn that INEC must be responsible and the Police civil in the prosecution of our election; a word, as they say, is enough for the wise.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE