The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday alleged that the results being announced by the INEC had been altered.
It therefore said the results were unacceptable to the party.
The party said it was forced to take a stand and make the pronouncements at this crucial point because “our democracy is under threat of derailment.”
The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, made the position of the party known at a press conference in Abuja.
He alleged that the results being announced at the commission’s National Collation Centre in Abuja were different from the original results at the disposal of the party’s agents in polling units, wards and local government areas across the country.
He said both the officials of the commission and the agents of President Buhari’s government and that of the APC had allegedly tried to alter the course of history by disenfranchising voters through alleged cancellation and manipulation of figures for results already announced at polling units nationwide.
Secondus alleged that 157,591 votes from 86 polling units were cancelled in Nasarawa State alone.
He also alleged that 10, 000 illegal votes were given to the APC in Wurno LGA in Sokoto State.
Despite provocation, intimidation and alleged attempts to “hijack our democracy and change the course of history,” Secondus said he was sure that the PDP was on course at winning the presidential election.
Meanwhile, the legal team of the PDP has summoned an emergency meeting for Tuesday, TheCable, has reported.
Coming on the heels of the rejection of the presidential election result by the main opposition party, the meeting is expected to discuss the next line of action.
The notice of meeting was sent by Kabir Turaki, former Minister of Special Duties, who unsuccessfully sought the presidential ticket of the PDP for the 2019 election.
The meeting, which will hold at the Legacy House, Abuja, is expected to start at 4pm.
Turaki, a senior advocate, told invitees to “appear in person as there will be no representation please.”
“The legal works are about to begin,” a senior PDP official told TheCable.
Parties can seek redress after elections – INEC
Reacting to the PDP’s position, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, urged all political parties to allow the commission to conclude the process of announcing the results and declaring the winner as required by law.
He said, “Collation of the 2019 Presidential Election has yet to be concluded and is ongoing as I write this. In fact, only the results of Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Gombe, Ondo, Abia states and the Federal Capital Territory have been presented at the National Collation Centre for the election.
“To be sure, only nine out of the 36 states have so far presented their results. Therefore, the overall winner has not yet been declared.
“We appeal to all political parties to allow the commission to conclude the process of announcing the results and declaring the winner of the election as required by law. Thereafter, any political party that does not agree with the outcome reserves the right to seek redress at the appropriate quarters.”
It is illogical for PDP to reject results – Keyamo
However, the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC has said it is illogical for the PDP to reject results of the presidential poll that are still being collated.
The council in a statement by its spokesperson, Festus Keyamo (SAN), expressed surprise at Secondus’ statement rejecting the results as being announced presently by INEC in Abuja.
The statement read, “How come the PDP is rejecting results that have not been fully and completely announced? How can one reject the result of an uncompleted game? The process of an election does not end until the final collation and announcement of results.
“Is the PDP rejecting the totality of the results nationwide? If yes, does it mean they also reject the results that would be announced later by INEC which may indicate that they have won in certain areas? Are they also rejecting the results already announced that indicate they won in some areas? For instance, are they rejecting the results of the FCT already announced in which they won?
“If indeed they are only rejecting areas where they lost, are they implying that it is only in areas where they won that can be adjudged free and fair and all areas where they lost must be adjudged rigged? Is that the mentality of true democrats?”
Keyamo said it was curious that the PDP rejected the results as being announced, yet claimed they were coasting to victory.
“What kind of logic is that? What kind of confusion is now reigning in the minds of the top hierarchy of the PDP that they can spew such illogicality?
“It is now obvious that the top hierarchy of the PDP is hysterical and nervous. We urge them to calm down. Obviously, this is the first time they are sensing a massive loss of an election as opposition party. It is a new experience for them. They are confused and disoriented.
The council urged INEC, Nigerians and our international friends not to be swayed by the “infantile” antics of the PDP.
Don’t let PDP deceive you, APC tells media, observers
The Presidential Campaign Council of the APC also urged international media and observers not to be deceived by the alleged antics of the PDP.
The council said it became imperative to issue the statement because of the dangerous extent to which the main opposition party was taking the machinations to discredit and destabilise the just-concluded presidential poll.
Keyamo (SAN) in a statement on Monday said reports received in the Situation Room of the Election Planning and Monitoring Directorate of the APC indicated that INEC had done a good job despite the challenges and the delays experienced in some cases.
Restating that the PDP had been making efforts to disrupt the process, the council added, “However, we urge our international friends, observers and patriotic Nigerians not to be deceived.”
The PCC expressed confidence that the results by INEC were free and fair.
Credit: Punch
