Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their weight behind Ahmadu Fintiri regarding his actions concerning the already collated results of some local government areas in the Edo State governorship election before the suspension of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They urged the electoral body to respect the sovereign will of the people for the sake of democracy’s survival.
This was stated in a statement issued on Sunday by the PDP Governors Forum (PDP GF), which also noted that the Adamawa State governor, who chairs the PDP Edo State Governorship Campaign Council, merely presented the results as they appeared on INEC’s IREV to prevent manipulation of the suspended collation.
The statement, signed by the Forum’s chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, also expressed satisfaction with other PDP governors, who it said monitored the process in accordance with the law.
The governors advised INEC officials to honor their oath as impartial electoral umpires for the sake of the nation’s democracy.
The Forum stated: “We note with immense pride and satisfaction the role played by PDP Governors, His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, His Excellency Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, and His Excellency, the Rt. Hon. Sherif Francis Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, who have diligently monitored the process in accordance with the law and guided the electorate to remain calm and law-abiding throughout the entire process.
“We are satisfied that our colleagues, led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, merely stated the results of a few local government areas that had already been collated and recorded on the INEC IREV portal to prevent manipulation by unscrupulous elements and avoid a situation that could bring the exercise into disrepute and the nation into political jeopardy.
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“Therefore, the public is advised to disregard the mischievous accusation by the APC that anyone usurped INEC’s responsibility, let alone distinguished Nigerians who are governors in their respective states.
“As the process continues, we remind the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the need to honor the oath of office taken by the Commission’s principal officers and the expectations of the people to serve as impartial umpires committed to deepening our multi-party democracy and ensuring the survival of our country.
“With the nation facing serious economic and security challenges, it is our expectation that INEC and all involved in the Edo Governorship Elections will respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State and spare the nation the unpredictable consequences of a disputed result at this time.
This becomes even more crucial, given the threat to democracy posed by the total state capture inclination of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
“The PDPGF unequivocally reiterates its commitment to democratic best practices, and to the peace and stability of a united Nigeria, where citizens are not only spared the contrived ordeals of the moment but are also provided with opportunities to realize their legitimate aspirations.
“We look forward to the announcement of a result that genuinely represents the wishes of the Edo people as freely expressed through their votes yesterday.
“Finally, we stand with our Governors, H/E Fintiri, H/E Diri, H/E Agbu Kefas, and H/E Oborevwori of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Delta States, respectively, in all the actions and positions they have taken on our behalf to maintain the sanctity of the elections.”
While commending the people of Edo State for coming out in large numbers to vote in Saturday’s exercise to choose their next leaders, the statement praised the quality of service provided by Governor Godwin Obaseki over nearly eight years, as well as “the qualities of our governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo,” which the Forum said made it easier for the enlightened Edo electorate to make the right choice, “especially given the hardship that the APC Administration is spreading nationwide.”
In a separate statement, the national leadership of the main opposition party maintained that its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the Edo State election based on the results collected by its polling agents across the state.
Issued on Sunday by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the statement asserted that “the rush, venom, and insults with which the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked Governor Fintiri only confirm the APC’s desperate attempt to cover its manipulations and steal the mandate freely given to Dr. Asue Ighodalo by the people of Edo State, as reflected in the genuine votes cast at the polling units.”
It stated, “As Governor Fintiri presented, the results collated from the polling units show Asue Ighodalo in a clear lead before the state collation exercise was hijacked by the APC, which, in connivance with some unscrupulous INEC and security officials, engaged in blatant alteration and substitution of the genuine results with fabricated figures in favor of the defeated APC candidate.”
The PDP recalled that it had previously alerted Nigerians to “this sinister plot by the APC, which will be firmly resisted, as the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, were thoroughly defeated in the election.”
The statement added: “The PDP strongly cautions the APC and INEC not to announce or declare any result that does not reflect the will of the people as expressed at the polling units. Doing so would be a recipe for a major crisis in the state, as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate to fall into illegitimate hands.
“Our party again cautions INEC not to forget the violent protest that followed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, to alter the outcome of the 2023 Governorship election in that state, which nearly resulted in the death of some INEC officials.
“Any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke even worse consequences.
“INEC must therefore do what is right in the interest of peace, stability, and the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.”
