News Investigators/ The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Organization in Ondo State has warned of dire consequences ahead of its November 16, 2024 governorship elections, should the outcome of the election be compromised.
The campaign body was speaking against the backdrop of the just concluded governorship polls in Edo State in which the All Progressive Congress (APC’) candidate, Monday Okpebholo was declared winner amid protest by PDP.
In a statement by Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Ondo PDP Campaign Organisation, Ayo Fadaka, on Monday, the party said the people have resolved to vote in protest against the ruling APC government, warning of untowardly reactions should the results be manipulated.
“We state emphatically for all to see and hear that Ondo is not Edo, our attitude, understanding and patience differs, 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 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 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,” PDP stated.
It said that “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.”
Full text of the statement read:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organization
Press Statement
The Edo State Governorship Election results represents another rape on democracy in Nigeria and for the umpteenth time, we declare that this is absolutely condemnable, as it betrays a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot.
Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared result by INEC, they know that 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 it’s 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.
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 differs, 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 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 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.
Ayo Fadaka
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity.
CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION.