The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State has gone to the Election Petition Tribunal to recover its stolen mandate by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the September 21 election.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of PDP Edo State Chapter, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi on Monday in Benin City.
According to the Chairman, the party has successfully filed a petition against the September 21 governorship election robbery.
Speaking to journalists on the development, Aziegbemi stated that the party is confident of reclaiming its stolen mandate.
He also alleged a devious ploy of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to stall Court order for the PDP to inspect election materials used in the election.
Aziegbemi stated that the court gave PDP go ahead to inspect the materials at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Aduwawa.
He noted that notwithstanding APC ploy, the PDP were tactical, thereby beating the APC to its own game.
“We have begun the journey to reclaim the people’s mandate and a petition has been filed before the Edo State Election Tribunal. Against all odds, the petition has been filed as APC’s plan is for us not to successfully file the petition. The mandate given to PDP will be reclaimed.
“We have put our fingers where the problem is. And the election tribunal will surely give us our mandate based on overwhelming evidence before them,” the Chairman said.
Aziegbemi also alleged that while the PDP was busy gathering evidence to pursue its case at the tribunal, the APC and its Chairman, Jarret Tenebe were lying and spreading falsehood to actualize the evil ploy of the APC.
He said, “As our party was busy gathering evidence for the petition, APC and its Chairman, Jarret Tenebe were busy peddling lies. He lied that the PDP is disrupting activities in the INEC office. Forgetting that the process is in the interest of the PDP. Why should PDP now be the party to disrupt the exercise that is in its favour?
“If APC truly won the September 21st governorship election in Edo State, why are they causing confusion and problems in the INEC office? They lie without thinking it through.
“They were disrupting the process because it is not in their favour. If you won, why fight hard to stop the other person from inspecting the process? Are you stopping the people to see how you won?” he queried.
Aziegbemi stated that “On the September 24, 2024, I penned a memo to the National Headquarters of INEC in Abuja. I premised that memo on the provision of the Electoral Acts, section 65 (1C), the powers of INEC to review results after one week of declaration. The reply from INEC will shock you.
“They said in their reply that the section of the Electoral Act is for internal purposes only. Not for outsiders or candidates, or party’s use on a declaration already made by returning officers,” the Chairman said.
On the release of PDP chieftains arrested before the elections, Aziegbemi said, “Before the election, most of our members were arrested by a Special Unit of the Nigerian Police from Abuja. It might interest you to note that most of the guys have been released. As they paid cumulatively, about N64 million and the police said bail is free.
“As we speak, they are still planning to arrest more of our members. Just to make sure we don’t get together to pursue our cause. We have taken a decision on briefing you weekly. This is to enable you to know the happenings in the political scene,” he said.
Speaking in the vein, the Director General of the Edo State PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen said it is within the constitutional right of the party to go to court.
“Democracy gives us the constitutional right to vote for who will lead us. And that constitutional right can’t be denied Edo people. That is why we have taken steps to pursue our case to a logical conclusion,” he said.
source: Channels TV
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
