Election result: PDP statement provocative, insult to democracy – APC

Tom Okpe, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of provocative statement which is said to be an affront to democracy. The ruling party said the PDP statement dated 24 February is not only offensive but an unwarranted strike against democracy and the people of Nigeria. The PDP in its statement on Sunday calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to arbitrarily name its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the winner of the presidential election which the APC describes as ‘reckless’. The APC in a press statement on Sunday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Makam Lanre Issah Onily said: “This call is shameful and alarming. Unwilling to wait for INEC the constituted legal authority to complete its task, the PDP seeks a short cut by false and premature claims of victory. This cannot stand. “Our nation is trying to perfect its democracy and not to turn it into a mockery. Sadly, this objective is lost to the PDP. The PDP’s guiding principle is distilled to the following; because they want something, they should get it. What they use to guide themselves actually blinds them instead.    “Because they want the presidency so badly that they have engaged in all manner of misconduct and spared little cost to achieve their aim, they now believe that they are entitled to claim victory notwithstanding the vote and will of the people. But this is not the way of democracy. Democracy means the people choose for themselves not that the PDP chooses for them”. The APC further said that may have been their ways in the past but unfortunately will not continue in the new political dispensation in the country anymore. “That has been the way in the past when they engineered and kidnapped elections to achieve their desired end notwithstanding the true will of the people. Thankfully, those days are gone and gone forever.   “These elections are supposed to be democratic exercises not a platform for the PDP to impose their selfish designs on a hopeful nation.  The PDP should honour and follow the sovereign will and sober dignity of the Nigerian people. “The people patiently waited the additional week for Election Day to come. The vast majority of people again exercised patience as they peacefully voted on Election Day. Unfortunately, isolated incidents of violence took place. We are deeply saddened by the violence and disruption that did occur. Nigerians died yesterday and that should never have happened and should never happen again during an election of any kind in our land. Their deaths are needless tragedies that mar what was otherwise a celebration of our maturing democracy. “Instead of the discordant and provocative statement it released, the PDP should be appealing for peace and for INEC to diligently and thoroughly perform the vital task assigned it. Curiously, the majority of violent incidents and reports of electoral malpractice emanate from states which the PDP controls. It appears the PDP just cannot break from their old ways. “The PDP press statement is, but a continuation of the sordid games that party has mastered. While all evidence points to the misconduct of their people, they make outlandish and false claims against the APC. This is but the typical modus operandi of a master swindler. They seek to distract the public eye from their own wrongs, by falsely accusing the APC of the very things they had conspired to set in motion months before this election even took place. From trying to falsify results on the ground to attempts at hacking the INEC software, they are willing to say and do anything to obtain victory, no matter how tainted by the wrongs they commit. “For our part, the APC has governed and campaigned as we believed was right. Because of this, we are content to await the verdict of the people. We also believe that only INEC has the authority to announce election results. What the PDP is trying to do, by claiming without any factual basis that Atiku has won, is usurp INEC’s constitutional authority. Moreover, PDP’s words are rash eruptions that may incite needless violence and unrest”. The ruling party urge the PDP to live up to the status it claims for itself as a large political party saying, “The PDP should behave more responsibly instead of acting the role of spoiled children who threaten to upset the dinner table if not fed their preferred meal. “The APC asks and encourages INEC to do its job as mandated by law and by good conscience and not by the screams of those who do not fully believe in these ideals. We hope INEC can begin to release results soon and do so in a way that protects and honours the vote of every Nigerian who cast a ballot. “We also ask our members and supporters to exercise patience and conduct themselves peacefully. Democracy is a contest of issues and visions. Not one of muscle and fighting. Let there be no more violence among us. Remember that we are all Nigerians and belong to the same national family despite our political differences. “On this day, may democracy and sovereign will of the electorate reign. There is no worthy substitute for this despite the malign protestations of the PDP. “If Nigeria is to stand for something, let it be democracy and let it be today so that we assure for ourselves fruits of a brighter future”, the statement said.  APC wins all National Assembly seats in Abia North Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia Abia North has collapsed into the waiting hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from domination by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Hon Uko Nkole, have lost out, while Udeachara, Chima Anyaso, others, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also failed to win. However, former Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, business mogul, Ben Kalu, Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha, Nnnamdi Iro Orji (Opotoyom), all of APC swept the National Assembly polls. The former Governor of Abia state, Chief Orji-Uzor Kalu also delivered the Bende Local Government for President Mahamadu Buhari in the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections in the area.  Buhari polled a total of 9233 votes to defeat the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar who polled 6649 votes. The Returning Officer for the presidential election in the area, Prof Nnennaya Ibiam of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) announced the result at the INEC headquarters in Umuahia, Sunday. Other results from Abia North indicated that the sitting member representing Isikwuuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in Abia state, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who recently decamped from the PDP won the election into the House of Representatives to retain her seat for the fourth tenure. She was declared winner after polling 14,712 votes to defeat her closest rival of the PDP, Mr. Ude Achara who polled 10,064 votes. In Bende Federal Constituency, Benjamin Kalu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) also polled 9,138 votes to defeat Chima Anyaso of the PDp who polled 5591 votes in the Bende Federal Constituency. The Returning Officer for the constituency, Mr. Martin Okoro declared him winner after announcing the result. Other results are being awaited.