Edo PDP Rejects Outcomes Of By-elections, Says Democracy Below Siege

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as denounced the outcomes of the Saturday, August 16 by-elections held within the state, saying democracy in Nigeria was beneath siege.

The Impartial Nationwide Election Fee (INEC) had earlier declared the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Omosede Igbinedion as winner of Edo Central Senatorial District, and Hon. Joe Ikpea for Ovia Federal Constituency.

Reacting to the result of the elections, Secretary of Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, on Sunday, accused INEC of deliberate exclusion of his celebration beneath the excuse of technical failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Nehikhare described the technical situation as a premeditated try by INEC to sabotage and manipulate the election in favour of the ruling APC.

“The BVAS is the only most essential device that ensures the credibility of elections in Nigeria. What we witnessed was not a technical failure however a deliberate sabotage by INEC to supply room for manipulation in cohort with APC and creates an unfair benefit for the APC and renders the complete course of compromised.

“We reject the purported outcomes being circulated by INEC. This election is nothing however a humiliation to democracy. INEC hides beneath so-called “glitches” and “malfunctions,” however the true situation is its lack of competence, neutrality, and ethical standing.

“In any accountable society, the administration of INEC would by now have been sacked and prosecuted for repeatedly compromising the electoral course of,” Nehikhare stated.

Nehikhare added that Nigerians deserved free, truthful, and credible election, “not workouts the place the result is predetermined.”

He careworn that till Nigeria’s elections had been adequately ready for and carried out transparently, democracy in Nigeria will stay beneath siege.