The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation in Ondo State has warned against the repeat of what it called the rape of democracy in Edo State in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
The spokesman of the campaign organization, Mr Ayo Fadaka, said what transpired in the Edo State governorship election betrayed a total disregard for the electoral desires of the people as validly expressed through the ballot.
Fadaka said Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared result by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying they know that PDP won that election, and this is a shame on those who sit atop of the nation’s affairs.
According to him, 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, which is clearly against the electoral law.
His words “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 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 government that has institutionalized 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, we won’t have a parody of election here; votes must count here. Let the APC and its rigging headquarters in Owerri begin to realize 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.”