The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has joined the Edo State chapter to reject the results of the governorship election held on Wednesday, September 30 in which APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki emerged winner.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, the party aligned with its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s allegation that the election was flawed and that the PDP was robbed of the victory it deserved.
The PDP candidate alleged inducement of voters and collaboration of INEC and the state government to doctor the results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
WATCH VIDEO: PDP Candidate Rejects Edo Election Results
The statement also berated President Buhari’s congratulatory message to Godwin Obaseki after his declaration by INEC as winner of the election. The message, according to PDP “has finally revealed his hand in the Edo Guber Election imbroglio”.
“We note with sadness that he (Buhari) had never extended similar congratulatory messages or goodwill to PDP candidates who were victorious in various elections since he assumed office.
“In Bayelsa State where his party, with the support of security agencies virtually declared war on Governor Seriake Dickson and the people of Bayelsa, the President refused to congratulate the PDP candidate who, against all odds, managed to survive the APC onslaught.
“His aides claimed then that the President was not in the business of congratulating election winners. Why the sudden change of heart now if we may ask?
“The only plausible explanation is that the President was eager to confer legitimacy on an otherwise badly flawed election in which his party acted like Shina Rambo, the notorious Armed Robber. Only that this time they were robbing the people of their votes.
“The action of the President belies his statement that he belongs to nobody but belongs to everybody. The President has shown where he belongs. We recall that President Jonathan dutifully never failed to congratulate opposition candidates who won elections during his tenure including Adams Oshiomhole. That is what is expected of a statesman.
Bad Losers
The party also reacted to the Edo APC Chairman, Anselm Ojezua’s post-election interview where he referred to the PDP as bad losers for questioning the authenticity of the results announced by INEC.
Mr Ojezua noted that the entire process of the Edo election had been described as peaceful, adding that the rejection of the election results by the PDP was “an act of a bad loser”.
“We did not lose the Gubernatorial Election in Edo State. We can therefore not be described as “bad losers” according to the APC State Chairman in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua. We were robbed by very shameless election riggers.
“We fully support the Edo Chapter of the PDP in the total rejection of the election results. We also fully endorse their determination to employ all legitimate means to reclaim their stolen mandate,” the party said.
Democracy In Danger
The PDP went further to warn that Nigeria’s democracy was “in grave danger”.
“Since the advent of this administration, no election has been free and fair. We go for elections as if we are going to war; and virtually all elections conducted by INEC have been either inconclusive or blatantly rigged.
“Today Rivers State has no representation in the National Assembly. No thanks to the powers that be.
“If we do not collectively rise to resist this anti people onslaught we might as well say bye bye to democracy,” the PDP stated.