The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Edo State Governorship Election results represents another rape on democracy.
It noted that Nigerians are not fooled by the officially declared results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying they know that PDP won that election.
The PDP governorship candidate campaign organisation in a statement issued yesterday by its Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Ayo Fadaka said it was 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.
He said: “ 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.
“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.”
Fadaka noted that in Ondo State, they 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.
He stressed that it wa a shameful act that lowers the status and respect due to Nigeria in the committee of nations.
Fadaka said: “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.”
Fadaka stressed that Ondo people are already protesting against the hardship imposed on them by the APC government, and also protesting against high inflationary trend that has denied them not only the future, but even the present!
The PDP noted: “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.
“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.”