Killings: PDP Demands Outright Cancellation Of Bayelsa/Kogi Governorship Poll

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BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday demanded the outright cancellation of the Governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, saying that they are products of bloodshed and do not reflect the true wishes and aspiration of the people of the states. 

It equally demanded the immediate cancellation of the Kogi West Senatorial election, stressing that it is the biggest fraud of the century. 

The opposition PDP stressed that if the All Progressives Congress’ political brigandage that took place in Kogi and Bayelsa State is allowed to stand, such would be extended to other elections including the 2023 general elections, stressing that it would be a death knell to the nation’s democracy. 

National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who stated thses at a press conference in Abuja, noted that a wave of terror is threatening Nigeria’s democracy; its constitutional order, national cohesion and safety of the citizens are now at stake. 

The PDP national chairman said that the Party has details of the roles played by the Police high command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other security in the Bayelsa and Kogi election, adding that the details will be made public at the appropriate forum and time.

The Party also said that the official conspiracies, bloodletting and mindless killing of innocent citizens by agents of the APC-led administration in connivance with the INEC, to aid the forceful seizure of power in the November 16th Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections, clearly show that our democracy is under severe attack.

Secondus also said that in an apparent organized attack, government-controlled Police and military, working for the APC, deployed dangerous assault weapons, including helicopters to coordinate the violent invasion of polling units with maximum force; shooting, killing and maiming unarmed civilians, who were called out by government to perform their civic responsibilities at the elections.

Secondus said the world watched with horror as killer security agents brutalized voters and carted away ballot boxes to government facilities were results were written in favour of the APC and handed to a heavily compromised INEC, which has become part of the crime, to announce. 

He further said; “From the report reaching our party, no fewer than 30 innocent compatriots were killed and many more injured in this organized crime against humanity by the APC, the Police and INEC. 

“The only crime of the citizens was their expressed determination to vote for the candidates of their choice as governors of Kogi and Bayelsa States as clearly manifested in the results from the polling centers before the forceful seizure of the electoral processes.

“Most distressing is the gruesome incineration of one of our party’s woman leaders in Kogi State, Mrs. Acheju Abuh, in her home by APC thugs, a crime that was abetted by unscrupulous security agents.

“Our party holds that this electoral fraud and crime against humanity, including established culpable homicide committed by the APC, security agents and INEC cannot be allowed to pass,” Secondus stressed. 

He said that the leadership of the PDP has thoroughly reviewed incontrovertible pieces of documentary of evidence including video clips, graphic pictures, witness testimonies, manipulated results sheets, proofs of compromising of INEC officials and other hard facts to establish the culpability of the Police and INEC in the electoral fraud as well as the unforgiveable culpable homicide and crime against humanity in the elections.

Secondus said; “It is instructive to call the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the fact that since the election, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government has failed to take any concrete steps to investigate the issues and bring culprits to book.

“The Police and INEC had also failed to take any decisive action to arrest and investigate their officers accused of involvement in various crimes in the elections. 

“We have also noted frantic efforts by the police hierarchy to explain away the crimes and sweep the killings under the carpet.

“These only validate apprehension that the invasion of polling unit, killings and alteration of results were part of the premeditated power-grabbing designs of the APC. 

“The PDP states without equivocation that invasion of polling units and killing of voters to manipulate electoral results cannot be allowed in our democratic space.

“It is therefore a sacred duty we all owe our nation to pursue a redress for this crime within the ambits of our national and international laws.”

“The PDP, standing with millions of Nigerians also holds that the INEC and the Police high command must be made answer charges of electoral fraud and crime against humanity at the appropriate quarters,” Secondus added. 

Accordingly, the PDP called on the international community as well as international organizations including, the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union (AU), ECOWAS to immediately impose sanctions, including travel bans, on the INEC and the Police high commands for abusing their offices and allegedly aiding or allowing acts that led to electoral fraud and violence in the elections. 

Secondus said that the primary duty of INEC and the Police is to ensure free, fair and credible election, adding however that they observed in the breach as even reported by agents, voters, stakeholders and independent observers in the elections.

According to Secondus; “They must therefore be made to face the consequences to serve as deterrent to others.” 

The leadership of the PDP commended the people of Kogi and Bayelsa States for their resilience and resistance against oppressive forces during the election. Such patriotism will never be in vain. 

The Party also condoled with the families of compatriots murdered by sponsored political thugs, adding that their death can never be in vain as the mandate for which they were killed will be surely retrieved.

Secondus said; “Moreover, somebody someday will bear the full sentence of guilt at the appropriate quarters, be it within the ambit of our domestic laws or those of the international laws. 

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