PDP, APC in verbal war over presidential poll result

…PDP: We reject results so far declared, to submit original copies from polling units

…PDP action illogical, as an election does not end until final collation, announcement of results- APC

Tunde Opalana and Tom Okpe, Abuja

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, disagreed over results of the Presidential election so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While the PDP faulted the Presidential election results released by the INEC especially in some states, noting that the results in identified areas were not true reflection of what transpired on the field last Saturday, the APC however noted that the claim of rejection of last Saturday’s Presidential election by the PDP is illogical. Briefing the press on Monday, the national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, categorically stated that PDP agents at collation centers have all original results from every polling unit, in every ward, in every Local Government Area (LGA) across the country, adding that the international community and Foreign and local observers were all aware. He declared that “results currently being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is incorrect, thus unacceptable to our party and people”. The party’s position, he said, was predicated on the fact that “officials of both President Buhari’s government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), working with INEC officers, have tried to alter the course of history and disenfranchise our people through the cancellation and manipulation of figures for results already announced at polling units, nationwide, in Local Government Areas (LGAs) where our party, the PDP, had commanding votes; this must now be resisted by every well-meaning Nigerian”. The manipulations, he said, are undignified, and disrespectful of the wishes of the electorate and the international community who have been in solidarity with Nigeria as it attempt to strengthen her democracy and institutions. Secondus went further to accuse the ruling party of manipulating state institutions in perpetrating electoral fraud in negation of international electoral procedures and Nigeria’s extant laws guiding elections. “In full view of the watching world, and despite efforts by our great party and its agents to adhere to every laid down provision for the 2019 general elections, the APC in collusion with INEC have taken aggressive steps, mostly through inducements, manipulation and incarcerations, using the elements of state power including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army in particular, alongside other organisations including the Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to silence the voices of our long suffering people; this is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by members of our security organisation with constitutional roles to play during this civic exercise. “As results trickled in on the Sunday, February 24th, 2019, clearly putting the PDP in the lead, the ruling party and President Buhari dispatched high-ranking officials to coercively influence outcomes in different geopolitical zones in the country,” he stated. Secondus went ahead to say that “the minister of the interior, was dispatched to the North West of the country, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation was dispatched to the North East of the country; while the Attorney General and Minister was dispatched to the South East and South-South regions”. The PDP alleged that the INEC IT server was hacked by agents of the APC to manipulate results and tampered with results from some polling units such as Sarkin Dawaki ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa State, Doka ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa State, Agyaragin – Tofa ward, 10, 000 illegal votes added to already announced results in Wurno LGA in Sokoto State. In addition, the chairman said PDP agents and officials are constantly arrested and in many cases locked-up for complaining that Card Readers were not in use in many Northern states, implying that all results from the Northern part of the country where Card Readers were not used should be voided in accordance with INEC guidelines. The party called for immediate release of Engr. Buba Galafima as well as all officials and agents of the PDP, in the Southwest, who were mostly arrested on the eve of the elections where intimidation became the APCs sole election strategy. The party appealed to the “leadership of INEC to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise our people and derail democracy, because the world is watching, and history will indeed pass judgment”. Reacting, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council noted that the claim of rejection of the last Saturday’s Presidential election by the PDP is illogical. The campaign council in a statement signed by its Director General, Strategic Communications Festus Keyamu (SAN), in Abuja on Monday, said it views with great consternation the statement of the National Chairman of PDP rejecting the results as being announced presently by INEC in Abuja. The statement reads: “The simple questions we ask the PDP and Atiku’s Campaign team are that how come the PDP is rejecting results that have not been fully and completely announced, rejecting 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 Independent National Electoral Commission (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”, the Group queried. In the PDP statement, Keyamo alleged that it is curious that they rejected the results as being announced, yet claimed they are coasting to victory asking, “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. “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. For many years, they were used to manipulating the instruments of State to just write results and announce themselves as winners. As such they have a sense of entitlement to these instruments of State that they could not fully manipulate this time because President Muhammadu Buhari insisted on a level plain field for all. “We advise the PDP that as opposition party for many years, we have been down this road before. This is not the time to sacrifice the country for personal ambition. If they feel they have lost (as their statement clearly indicates), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must pick up his phone to make that famous call to President Muhammadu Buhari. The world is watching him and so are Nigerians”. The APC urged INEC, Nigerians and the international community not to be swayed by these infantile antics of the PDP, adding that “the process of collation and announcement that is on-going should be done to its logical conclusion after which anyone who is aggrieved should take full advantage of the provisions of the law”.