Borno Bye –Election: PDP Decries APC Manipulations

…Charges Members To Protect Votes In Kogi, Bayelsa

As a fallout to the open manipulations of last Saturday’s Borno Central
Senatorial bye-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 bye-election.

The party said the bye-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 Bye-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.

“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.