Edo guber: PDP Governors advise INEC, APC against threat to nation’s democracy

•Say Nigeria is perching on horns of grave economic, security challenges
•Urges respect of wish of Edo State

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and everyone involved in the Edo Governorship Elections to respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time.
The PDP Governors pointed out that the advice has become more imperative, especially in the face of the threat to democracy by the total state capture inclination of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led federal government.
The Governors, in a statement Sunday night by its Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, categorically declared that Nigeria is currently perching on the horns of grave economic and security challenges.
The PDP Governors unequivocally reiterated its commitment to democratic best practices as well as the peace and stability of a united Nigeria in which the citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeal of the moment but, more importantly, provided alternative opportunities to realise their legitimate dreams.
The Governors, in the statement, said, “We have followed with keen interest developments in the Edo Governorship Elections and wish to state as follows;
*We salute the good people of Edo State, the cradle of a proud Benin kingdom, for trooping out in their large numbers, to exercise their legitimate duty to choose the person who would govern the state for the next four years.
*We have no doubt that given the laudable achievements of the exiting governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, and the qualities of our governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the enlightened Edo electorate would have had no difficulty in making the right choice, particularly given the hardship that the APC Administration is spreading nationwide.
“We note with immense pride and satisfaction, the role being played by the PDP Governors, His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, His Excellency Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and His Excellency, the Rt. Hon. Sherif Francis Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State who have painstakingly monitored the exercise in accordance with the law and guided the electorate to remain calm and law abiding throughout the entire process.
“We are satisfied that our colleagues as led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Fintiri simply stated the results of a few local government areas as were already collated and captured on the INEC IREV portal, with a view to forestalling any manipulation by unscrupulous elements and, ultimately, averting a situation that could throw the exercise into disrepute and the nation into political jeopardy.”