Off-season elections: We won't accept results not electronically transmitted

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that it would not accept the declaration of the results of the November 11 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states other than by the means already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking in an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the national publicity secretary of the main opposition party, Debo Ologunagba, noted that the PDP is fully prepared for the elections and in line with the commitment of INEC will only accept results transmitted in line with the requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.

He said: “The PDP notes that the INEC Chairman has confirmed that the use of BVAS and IREV in this election and even in previous elections is a mandatory statutory requirement of the law.

“The PDP holds INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directly responsible and accountable to his pronouncements and that INEC is bound by Law to electronically transmit results directly from the polling units using these technologies.

“The PDP is fully prepared for these elections and in line with the commitment of INEC will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except as this manner pronounced by the INEC Chairman in line with the requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.”

Ologunagba stated that the party has commenced training of its polling agents at all levels to ensure total compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Regulations especially as confirmed by the INEC Chairman.

Giving preparation updates on the respective elections, the party spokesman said its governor in Bayelsa, Duoye Diri, has performed well and enjoys the overwhelming support of the people.

He advised the opponent of the PDP candidate, Timipre Silva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to realize that he has been abandoned by his party, stands no chance, and should therefore pull out of the race.

“Timipre Sylva has no fighting chance before Governor Diri whose unprecedented achievements have endeared him to the people.

“It is still not too late for the APC candidate to heed wise counsel and withdraw from the race to save himself from a monumental defeat,” he added.

On Kogi State, the party spokesman said that the PDP has a popular candidate in Dino Melaye, noting that his popularity and public acceptance have completely dwarfed the APC candidate, Usman Ododo.

“Ododo is alleged to be responsible for the pitiable state of Local Government Councils in Kogi State which have not been able to pay salaries, gratuities and pensions; arising from his alleged role in the diversion of LG funds to Governor Yahaya Bello.

“This justifies why Ododo is deservedly referred to as ‘Agent of Poverty and Pain’ in Kogi State,” Ologunagba said.

As for the Imo State election, the PDP national publicity secretary described the party’s candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, as popular and well-accepted, noting that the situation has thrown fear into the camp of the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma of the APC.

“Gov Uzodimma has never won an election in Imo State, he doesn’t have an organic followership in Imo State because he does not care for the people,” Ologunagba added.

He reiterated the party’s call for the immediate removal of the Imo State INEC REC, Prof. Sylvia Agu for allegedly being compromised.

Ologunagba added: “The PDP and other political parties had written several letters to INEC. Recently the political parties including the PDP, LP, YPP, ADC, and AA among others staged a peaceful protest to INEC demanding for her immediate removal.

“Prof. Sylvia Agu is compromised, her conduct in the 2023 National and House of Assembly elections where she allegedly manipulated and brazenly assisted the APC in rigging the elections, are in the public domain.

“Prof Sylvia Agu is a direct relation of a national officer of the APC and there are allegations that she is being further compromised to assist the APC to rig the Nov. 11 Governorship election in Imo State.

“The continuing stay in office of Prof. Sylvia Agu as Imo REC is provocative, inciting and amounts to testing the will of the people of Imo State and daring them to do their worst.

“INEC has a lot of RECs from which the INEC Chairman can choose to replace Prof. Sylvia Agu and avoid a scenario that could be worse than what happened in the Adamawa State Governorship election where INEC refused to change the compromised REC.

“INEC Chairman must note that the integrity of an election process is directly relation to the confidence of the electorate.

“The Imo having lost confidence in Prof Sylvia Agu’s neutrality, the PDP to immediately re-deploy her Imo State.”

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