The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Southern Kaduna asks Makarfi, Sambo, to explain PDP’s failure in north

    ….threatens to shift loyalty to APC at guber poll

     

    The people of Southern Kaduna have vowed to allign with another party and possibly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will not explain to them what led to the woeful performance of the party in the northern part of the state during the presidential election.

    Southern Kaduna people who spoke through Coalition of Southern Kaduna Nationalities (CSKN) lamented that, none of the PDP’s bigwigs from Kaduna north, including former Governors Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi could deliver their respective local governments areas to the PDP during the presidential and national assembly polls.

    Towards this end, the CSKN said, an ultimatum of 24 hours is issued to the PDP and the party bigwigs in question to respond accordingly, or may be left with no option than to shift their loyalty to another party that will take care of their aspirations and yearnings in the zone.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, the leader of CSKN Dr. Yusuf Gandu Magaji said, “the Southern Kaduna Nationalities are disenchanted by the voting pattern as revealed by the results from Zone 1. We believe that there is a betrayal of confidence and trust along the party (PDP) stalwarts in Zone 1 who can no longer be trusted.

    “The pattern of the results of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on the 23rd February. 2019 leaves much to be desired. The results from Kaduna North caused a shock to the Southern Kaduna Nationalities and instigated a rethink in our longstanding marriage and commitment to the opposition party, PDP.

    “The result shows that PDP won overwhelming in the Southern Senatorial Zone. This stresses a fact that, the zone remained faithful and voted for the party en-mass. However, in a sharp contrast, the party performed woefully in Zone 1 as their loyalty was shifted to APC.

    “The key issue here is that most of the party heavy weights and those who benefitted during the PDP’s reign concentrate in Zone 1, yet they failed to deliver their wards to the party. We view this as a betrayal of the Presidential candidate in contrast to the bond which questions our continuous loyalty to the party.

    “We are forced to re-examine our commitment to the party. As such, we can no longer guarantee our votes in the gubernatorial elections at the moment by virtue of the insincerity and inconsistency in Zone 1.

    “The CSKN demands from Zone 1 a concrete and convincing explanation within 24 hours as a matter of urgency, on why Zone 3 should not negotiate with another variable political party for the governorship elections.

    “Failure to respond within this time frame will make us to begin negotiations with the party of our choice that can be trusted. We have capacity to turn our votes elsewhere overnight, especially to a candidate that can honour agreements.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we have already set up a team of young, vibrant and dynamic but promising citizens to begin the process of negotiation should the PDP fails in convincing us otherwise. This team of young men chosen is by virtue of their social standing, progressive tendencies, patriotism and commitment to the geopolitical Zone”.

    When asked about the party they have in mind, CSKN said, they will consider every other political party, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

     

  • Don’t sink Nigeria ship because you lost – PDP warned

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been urged to accept the outcome of the just concluded presidential election in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    National Chairman, Igbo Reawakening Forum (IRF), Uchenna Ufearoh, who gave the advice in a chat with the Nation, said the party should not sink the ship of the state because of its loss.

    The party had lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the poll.

    It rejected the results of the election, saying it would challenge it in court.

    Ufearoh called on the PDP to rather join hands with the winner of the election, President Mohammadu Buhari to move the country forward.

    Read Also: PDP calls for cancellation election in Kwara

    He said, “I call on the President to be magnanimous with his victory, while the losers should accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “They should not sink the ship of the state because of their loss. Let them join hands with Buhari to rebuild and move Nigeria forward.”

    He expressed confidence that the President would take advantage of his second term in office to consolidate on his previous achievements.

    “Buhari fulfilled his 2015 campaign promises to a reasonable extent. You know when you’re building a house, the foundation doesn’t appear fanciful.

    “It’s difficult to appreciate the structure until you start laying the blocks. That’s when the beauty would be better appreciated.

    “The president in the past three and half years has been at the foundation level. This victory has given birth to a new Nigeria. Mr. President will reinforce and consolidate on his previous achievements,” he added.

     

  • Gov. Yero’s spokesman defects to APC

    …says, PDP’s candidate can’t meet El-Rufai’s standard

    Ahead of the Saturday governorship elections, Director General Media and Publicity to immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Ahmed Maiyaki has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Maiyaki who gave lack of alleged inability of the PDP in the state and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru Kudan to provide an alternative development plan if elected to lead the state, as reason for his action, however disclosed that he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement he made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday, Maiyaki said, “El-Rufai’s vision for Kaduna state is unmatched by any of the candidates seeking to be governor of the state in the March 9th polls.

    He stated that, El-Rufai has raised the bar of governance in the state to an admirably high level, which indigenes of the state have a duty to sustain, and that, the PDP in Kaduna and it’s gubernatorial candidate, have not put in place any plan to sustain or surpass the achievements.

    According to Maiyaki, “Having consulted widely with my political associates, family and friends, l have decided to resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: APC chieftain congratulates Buhari

    “This decision has become necessary in view of the inability of the party at the state and its gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru Kudan to provide an alternative development plan if elected to lead the state.

    “It is on record that the bar of governance in Kaduna State is admirably high at the moment and we as indigenes of the state have a duty to sustain this feat. Sadly, the PDP in Kaduna and it’s gubernatorial candidate, Isa Ashiru Kudan have not put in place any plan to sustain or surpass these achievements.

    “To this end, l have notified and returned the membership card to officials of the PDP at my ward. Accordingly, l have registered as a member of All Progressive Congress (APC) whose candidate, Gov Nasir Ahmad Elrufai has proven competence and vision for Kaduna State.

    “I wish to state unequivocally, that El-Rufai’s vision for my dear state is unmatched by any of the candidates seeking to be governor of the state in the March 9th polls. l believe Elrufai has the capacity, experience and interest to serve Kaduna better. l therefore declare my total support for his candidature and urge other like minds to do so. Kaduna truly deserves a competent leader, we cannot afford anything less.” He said.

  • 2019: APC express dismay over poll outcome in Kogi West

    allege PDP of rigging

     

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kogi West senatorial district has alleged the state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of rigging last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election in the area.

    The party after a review of the exercise, in which the PDP and a fringe political party won the Senate and House of Representatives seats, across the Kogi West Senatorial district, vowed to rectify what it described as an anomaly.

    The APC won in the other two senatorial districts; Kogi East and Kogi Central

    The review document released on Saturday in Lokoja, the state capital, and signed by the Alhaji Isah Taufiq, Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State chapter, expressed their “agony” over the poll outcome.

    “We note with dismay, the uninspiring performance from the senatorial polls results from Kogi West. We however promise to brace up and take a firm decision to correct the anomalies of the past in the next coming State Assembly election.

    Read Also: Akala to supporters: join me in APC

    “We discovered that was massive rigging by PDP in our area. We must demonstrate the agony and frustration we bear over leadership failures in Kogi West. We therefore tender unreserved apology to the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello over the last presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “We are meeting to restrategize on making sure we come victorious in the upcoming elections. We also apologize to our colleagues from the other senatorial districts particularly the Chief of Staff, Hon. Edward Onoja for the unfounded allegations against his person.

    “On a final note, having tendered apology to all concerned, we call on all APC members in the state, all stakeholders and all political appointees, to desist from passing blames and abuses across board against each  other. We are to be in unity and not display our ignorance in the public any further,” it read.

     

  • How thugs forced us to rig polls at gunpoint in Rivers–Corps members

    A youth corps member, Tuatimi James Powell, yesterday revealed how some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State sent thugs to force him and 10 other colleagues to a hotel in Bodo-Ogoni, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State to rig the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections at gunpoint.

    Powell, who was a Presiding Officer (PO) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said he and other youth corps members had horrifying experiences in the hands of the PDP thugs who bundled them into a waiting bus amid sporadic gunshots and moved them to Greenside Hotel.

    Read also: APC suspends Amosun, Okorocha, others for anti-party activities

    The youth corps member revealed that on getting to the hotel, the PDP leaders and their thugs forced them to fill fictitious results on INEC’s result sheets forcibly taken from him and other corps members at gunpoint while also forcing them to sign the documents. Corroborating Powell, an Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) of INEC, Michael Kponeh, disclosed that the ad hoc staff and other officials of INEC were held hostage by the PDP thugs in Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana LGA and made to do their bidding at gunpoint.

    The 11 corps members were paraded along with 42 other suspects yesterday by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham. The GOC, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye, was assisted by 6 Division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu. Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “On February 23, 2019, at about 1330hrs, following a tip-off, our troops deployed in Gokana general area for Operation Safe Conduct of Presidential and National Assembly elections, arrested 39 suspects, including eleven corps members and one driver, while others were Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff with sensitive electoral materials at Greenside Hotel in Gokana LGA of Rivers State. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were moved to the hotel to rig the election in favour of a political party. “Items recovered from the hotel were 34 ballot boxes loaded with ballot papers, three card readers, 10 bags containing electoral materials and Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number: Lagos: EQ 171 KRD.” The GOC also disclosed that 13 political thugs were arrested in Harris Town, Degema LGA of Rivers State ahead of last Saturday’s elections.

  • I’m committed to Sanwoolu’s victory, says Ambode

    LAGOS State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has denied a newspaper report alleging that he was working with the agents of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential election. Rather, he said, he is busy working for the election of the Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwoolu Sanwoolu.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Habib Aruna, noted that the report published in The Nation newspaper attempted to hold Governor Ambode responsible for the alleged activities of Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi because the latter supported the governor’s ambition for re-election during the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in October 2018. He said that having publicly declared his acceptance of the decision of the decision of the party on the party’s governorship primaries, he would never take any action to undermine the prospects of the party in the ongoing elections.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has been drawn to a report in today’s edition of The Nation newspaper, Friday March 1, 2019. “Specifically, the contentious report, which was published on the newspaper’s front page without any by-line, insinuated that Governor Ambode might be working with an opposition party through a former member of the Lagos State Executive Council and Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo. “The report also attempted to hold the Governor responsible for the alleged activities of Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi because he supported the governor’s gubernatorial ambition during the primaries of the All Progressives Congress in October 2018.

    “The governor wishes to make it abundantly clear that, having declared publicly his acceptance of the decision of the party on the primaries, he has not and will never take any action to undermine the prospects of the party in the on-going elections. “It is human to aspire, and the capacity of each individual to manage the negative outcomes of a legitimate aspiration differs. But that should never be the basis to link His Excellency to whatever action of certain individuals who might have shared his vision in the past but have proceeded to pursue their own interests as adults and citizens without any influence from or recourse to the governor.

    “Governor Ambode’s decision to stand by the party that has given him the platform to serve Lagosians meritoriously is based on the principle of justice, responsibility and loyalty. “He has everything to gain from the victory of the party’s candidate Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Governor of Lagos State on March 9, 2019, and he looks forward to handing over the affairs of the state to the candidate of the APC come May 29th. “It is therefore disturbing, unfair and sad that a respected  medium such as The Nation, which enjoys the goodwill of members of our party and is appropriately positioned to verify the falsehood of these fictitious and sponsored hatchet job chose not to observe the journalistic dictum of “if in doubt, leave out” in the breach.

    “In this circumstance, His Excellency hereby makes use of his right to a rejoinder and demands an apology for the unjustifiable aspersions cast on his person by wrongly presenting him to right thinking members of the public as a disloyal saboteur trying to frustrate his party’s campaign and electoral victory. Nothing can be further from the truth. “Governor Ambode has consistently appealed to those who sympathise with him that the best way to express solidarity is to vote for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday March 9, 2019 in order to ensure that his own legacy is preserved and the gains of the past four years are improved upon  “As we move towards next Saturday’s important election, Governor Ambode urges Lagosians and party faithful not to allow fifth columnists pretending to be overzealous crusaders frustrate our onerous efforts to take Lagos State to the next level.

    “The governor says as he did in the run-up to last Saturday’s presidential poll, he will leave no stone unturned and spare no effort in ensuring that the party’s flag-bearer in the governorship election, Mr. SanwoOlu and all the 40 APC candidates in the House of Assembly poll are duly elected on Saturday March 9.

  • I will work for Adelabu, says Akala

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State and former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Friday gave details of how alliance talks between his party and other opposition parties in the state broke down.

    He also revealed that he has decided to work with the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the state, Adebayo Adelabu, to ensure his success in the March 9 governorship election, but still remains a member of the ADP.

    Alao-Akala made the revelation yesterday at his Bodija, Ibadan residence.

    His words: “I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand the March 9th elections on the platform of the ADP with my full support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu.”

    He explained that his alliance with APC is based on the party’s belief that the ADP can perform optimally and has a strong grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.

    “Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifestos, ‘Rescue Mission Agenda, have been adopted by Bayo Adelabu with the Presidency as witness. I have therefore as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government.

    “My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of ADP for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though, my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.”

    Alao-Akala said his decision following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections was based on the outcome of some incidents.

    He said: “It is widely known that I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party – the Action Democratic Party ((ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with my boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja as mediator.

    Read also: Election results: Why Atiku must go to court – PDP

    “Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with the Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48hrs to consult with my people, the opposition parties’ alliance committee as well as the teeming members, the leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.

    “On resumption of the alliance meeting, my boss (High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja) told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates that I was not in consideration for Governorship due to my place of birth – Ogbomoso. According to him, “we need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu,” With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.

    “Since I’ve been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose support have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.

    “I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala – the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu ahead of the March 9 Governorship and state House of Assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum supports.”

  • Election results: Why Atiku must go to court – PDP

    The South West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday said it was fully in support of the party’s presidential candidate in the Feb. 23 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his decision to challenge the polls result in court.

    The National Vice Chairman of the party (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, gave the position at a news conference in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday declared President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the election.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, while announcing the results in Abuja, said Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 15, 191, 847 votes to defeat his main challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 11, 225, 978 votes.

    Atiku has since rejected the results as declared by INEC, vowing to challenge it in court.

    Some prominent Nigerians and groups including a former Minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh and Arewa Consultative Forun(ACF) have appealed to Atiku to concede defeat to Buhari and congratulate him.

    Olafeso, however, said the decision of Atiku to seek legal action against the results was a necessary step.

    He claimed that the Feb. 23 was one of the worst elections in the country’s history, being characterised by irregularities and malpractice.

    Olafeso said there were many cases of violence and intimidation of voters across the country, apart from the cases of card reader failure which he claimed disenfranchised many.

    He said that INEC employed double standards in the different geographical zones of the country to favour the APC.

    The PDP chieftain said it was the right of Atiku to challenge what he called a sham, adding that all believers in true democracy should encourage the candidate to fight “the fraud”.

    “We are all witnesses to the abuses that characterized the general elections of Saturday 23rd February and the double standards which ensured that electoral guidelines adopted for the election guaranteed different approaches to its conduct both in the Northern and Southern parts of our nation.

    ‘While it was compulsory that card reader be employed in the South and absolute requisite for ballot casting, it was put in abeyance in the North.

    “Yet, the election was meant to produce the President of the Federal Republic; this is double standard and totally unacceptable.

    “This clearly confirms that INEC was obviously ill-prepared and equally did not set out to conduct a credible election.

    “In this respect, we query whatever rationale that will make it accept mutilated results from States like Nasarawa, Kano, Yobe and Bornu amongst many others.

    “We are particularly amazed when due credence is given to the fact that the number of votes surpassed accredited voters, even more surprising is the many vote cancellations in places where the PDP won.

    ‘Borno State, the main centre of strife, acrimony and war, put to lie every demographic principle and returned more votes than Lagos, a state at peace, in this election.

    “We also note the violence that characterized the elections across the South West, particularly in Lagos, Oyo and Osun States.

    Read also: Apapa LGA organizes health walk, free medical checkup

    ” It is important to state loud and clear that those crises were perpetrated by members of the APC who were so scared of the defeat they would have suffered in those places where they prosecuted their violent agenda.

    ‘The recourse to violence was dictated by the reality that they were set to lose the elections to the PDP and quickly resorted to hooliganism and thuggery in those states to abort the will of the people.

    “It is a great disservice to the nation that security agencies mobilised and deployed for elections in those places remained lethargic and failed to protect the ballot, this is disappointing.

    “We also condemn the prosecution of violence elsewhere across the nation, particularly the fact that the military descended massively into the partisan fray; we find this absurd,” he said.

    According to him, the military and indeed the security agencies should not be politicised.

    “They remain crucial and critical institutions of State that must continue to command respect, trust and confidence of all Nigerians.

    ‘Sadly, their current outlook will deny them all the aforementioned and that portends great danger for our democracy and country.

    “The party leadership in the South West thus firmly declare that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and the National Working Committee of the Party must immediately commence diligent prosecution of actions to expose the fraudulent elections with a serious view to reclaim the stolen mandate.

    “We cannot be taken serious as a people when leadership does not give due credence to the electoral desires of the people and respect their franchise”, he said.

    Olafeso said the gains recorded in the conduct of the 2015 elections had been eroded by what he called the poor conduct of the Feb. 23 election.

    He warned that the PDP, particularly in the South West, would resist any form of violence on voters in the next round of gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

    The PDP official called on security agencies to live up to expectation to protect not only votes, but also lives during the March 9 elections.

    Olafeso commended the people of South West for the massive votes they gave to the PDP in the region.

    “We therefore call on our people across the region to vote massively for the PDP in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

    “This election also presents an opportunity for the people of the three States, particularly Lagos, to get freedom from the vicious grip of those who have held them hostage”, he said

    Olafeso promised the party would not disappoint the people of the South West if given the opportunity to govern states in the zone.

    Also speaking, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George decried what he called the massive irregularities of the Feb. 23 elections.

    George said the results of the elections did not reflect the will of the people as supporters of PDP were intimidated through violence, while others were disenfranchised.

    He, however, called on supporters not to be discouraged by incidents of Feb. 23, but come out en masse to vote the party ‘s governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, and state assembly candidates of the PDP.

    George expressed the optimism that the PDP would become victorious in the March 9 elections and that the state “would be free from bondage”.

    NAN reports that Agbaje and Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a chieftain of the party, were also at the news conference.(NAN)

  • Buhari would have received more northern votes, says Marafa

    President Muhammadu Buhari should have received more votes from northern states in the February 23rd poll but for insurgency and insecurity, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) has stated.

    He also welcomed the decision of presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to go to court to challenge the result.

    He spoke on Friday with State House Correspondents after a parley with President.

    On criticisms that have trailed votes from the north, Senator Marafa said: “If you ask me I will tell you that I am not even pleased with the votes that came from my state because I believe we could have done much more.

    “We have 1.4million registered voters and we recorded only about 650,000 votes, so what is the big deal about it?

    “If you look at all the states, I think the overall performance is below 60 percent. African leaders congratulate Buhari on his re-election in most of the states.

    “We have more than 80 million registered voters and out of that figures how many voted?

    “In fact we are supposed to lament because the situation was supposed to be much more than that.

    “Nigerians are supposed to be more politically aware and they are supposed to turnout in their numbers to vote much more than we have seen. So I don’t see anything unusual about that.”

    On the March 9 governorship election, he said: “Well, the most important thing now is that we have finished the presidential election which a lot of people are united on the candidacy of president Muhammadu Buhari but when it comes to the governorship election, there are a lot of disparities across the states which the President himself has reckoned by actions.

    Read also: No deal with Peace Committee to halt legal action, says PDP

    “So I will urge people to vote for people they trust that can protect their lives and properties, people that will bring about prosperity to them.

    “The President has shown that he is a great democrat and we have seen what he did in Ogun State. We have seen what he did in Imo State and so on and so forth.

    “This is to tell you that the president is ushering a new brand of democracy without bitterness. People should be allowed to choose.”

  • No deal with Peace Committee to halt legal action, says PDP

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed media reports indicating that the National Peace Committee (NPC) has prevailed on the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar not to challenge the outcome of the February 23 presidential election in court.

    Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said although Atiku and some chieftains of the party met with the leaders of the NPC on Thursday, no conditions were given regarding the decision of the PDP to seek redress in court.

    According to the party chair, the PDP briefed the NPC leaders on the party’s grievances in the just concluded presidential election and also its decision to seek legal redress.

    He further stated that the NPC team comprising Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd); Bishop Mathew Kukah and Cardinal John Onayeikan did not persuade the aggrieved PDP leaders to drop the court option.

    Secondus said: “When they came, they met with us and they requested us to please state our grievances. There was no condition.

    “Initially, we were not to talk with them because a decision had been taken to go to court. But because of the personalities involved, we said ok, let’s just talk.

    “There were no conditions and there was no request of any condition. We made it clear that unless the injustices are addressed, there is no room for peace.

    “It is only when you address the injustice that you can now sit down for peace.

    “So, whatever interpretation that was done by anybody, let it be clear to everybody that we did not give conditions, they did not request for conditions.

    “It was like, look, state what really happened in the election and we told them how the military took over the election and conducted the election in favour of the APC with INEC collusion”.

    The party chair deplored what he described as voter suppression in states considered the strongholds of the PDP, alleging that soldiers were deployed to harass, intimidate and arrest voters and party supporters in such states,

    He listed Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers as worst affected states in the alleged military siege, adding the threat by the Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State that foreign observers would go back to their country in body bags was extended to Nigerians on during the election.

    Secondus said: “As at the last count, over 50 Nigerians have lost their lives last Saturday, most of them from the South South region where a division of the army with their commander were turned on the people on the Election Day.

    “For a regime that appears comfortable with blood, the deaths they recorded during their campaigns were not enough, as after their contrived ballot box victory and stolen mandate, they still hired some hoodlums and sent them to the streets to go and kill themselves.

    “You can see that the nation has been in sorrowful mood for our democracy that was dragged down last Saturday, four years after the world stood up for Nigeria for not only conducting a flawless election, in addition to having a seamless transition to an opposition party.

    “But we all are seeing the direct beneficiary of that rare democratic disposition, General Muhammadu Buhari, using the military to rob Nigerians of their right to choose leaders of their choice”.

    The party chair queried the higher voter turnout in insurgency-ravaged states like Borno and Yobe above the 2015 figures, whereas states like Rivers and others in the South-south zone recorded lower voter turnout in the last election than they did in 2015.

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    He said: “The clear effect of militarising the election, particularly in the South South and South East in addition to the killing of innocent electorate, was the obvious suppression of voters who were either scared out or chased away.

    “Even by INEC own record, voter turnout in last Saturday’s election fell to about 36 percent from 44 percent that it was in 2015.

    “The military were dragged into the election to suppress and scare away voters and facilitate rigging.

    “That is how you hear ridiculously that war torn Borno and Yobe states recorded higher percentage in voter turnout than some states in the South South geo- political zone.

    “Shamelessly, they have again started mobilizing to use the same military to forcefully take over for APC two PDP states in the South South and one state in the South East.”