Press Statement
Borno By–Election: PDP
Decries APC Manipulations…Charges Members To Protect Votes In Kogi, Bayelsa
*Buhari
As a fallout
to the open manipulations of last Saturday’s Borno Central Senatorial by-election,
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged its members and supporters to be
on the alert and ready to defend votes in forthcoming elections, especially the
November 21 and December 5 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states
respectively.
PDP National
Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday said the call
has become necessary following the continuous violation of electoral rules and
intimidation of opposition by the APC Federal Government, as manifested in the
conduct of the Borno Central Senatorial by-election.
The party
said the by-election falls short of all acceptable standards and was
characterized by high-level manipulations by the APC, which used compromised
electoral officers and security forces to muscle votes in its favour.
“We have
repeatedly alerted Nigerians that our democracy is under threat in the hands of
the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government. Last Saturday’s Borno
Central Senatorial By-election, where compromised electoral officials and security
forces were brazenly used to intimidate the electorate and write votes for the
APC has brought this to the fore. This barefaced rape on our democracy is
completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue in the country.
*Metuh
“In the
light of this therefore, the national leadership of the PDP charges all our
members and supporters across the country, especially in Kogi and Bayelsa
states to be on the alert ahead of the November 21 and December 5 governorship
elections and use every lawful means as citizens of Nigeria to protect their
votes and ensure that no one, no matter the force or manipulation is allowed to
subvert the will of the people.
“As a party
that nurtured and sustained democracy and the unity of the country for 16
years, during which we strengthened the safety net of ‘one man, one vote’, we
insist that the sanctity of the ballot box and the overall electoral process
must be upheld at all levels and at all times.
“While we
reject the processes associated with the conduct and outcome of the Borno
Central Senatorial bye-election, we wish to state in the strongest possible
terms that the PDP will never, by an means whatsoever, allow a replay of such
heinous manipulations in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and
Bayelsa states respectively.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity
Secretary
November 2, 2015
Buhari should humble himself and imbibe the basic tenets of democracy. The winner-takes-it-all mentality he and the APC are flaunting portends serious danger for this country. He should caution himself before he plunges this country into avoidable crisis
ReplyDeleteNigerians deserve what they have got in Buhari. They allowed APC-inspired hate for Jonathan to close their ears to all appeals to reason and settle for Buhari. They deserve no one's pity
ReplyDelete