-
Call outcome of Edo guber election, rape of democracy
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have called on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into the nation’s electoral laws with a view to making it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.
The PDP Governors made the call in a communique issued at the end of their meeting held on Saturday in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Rising from their meeting, held under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, the PDP-GF, also called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
The Governors, in the communique signed by their Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, empathized with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.
The PDP-GF pledged that all its Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.
The Forum noted with concern what it called ‘the rape of democracy in the Edo Governorship elections’, pointing out that it is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.
The PDP-GF, in the communique, noted with concern “the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections”.
It added, “It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.
“The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.
“The Forum recognises the good work that the minority members of NASS is doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally”, it said.
Continuing, the PDP-GF noted the “concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files.
“The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance. “The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC.
“Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party.
“The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.
“The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.
“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
“The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development”, it said.
