THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel of working in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rob it of victory in some states of the federation.
The party, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, alleged that the elections were characterised by widespread irregularities, supported by certain INEC and security officials to the advantage of APC.
According to PDP, "in Lagos, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Imo states, there are proofs of electoral manipulations ranging from underage voting, ballot stuffing and intimidation of PDP supporters, to alteration of some aspects of the process in favour of APC.
“Evidences abound of widespread irregularities across the country, with INEC rejecting results from the strongholds of PDP candidates for no just cause, while accepting those of the APC."
The statement further read: “In Abia State, but for the outcry of the people and timely intervention of the INEC headquarters which rejected the illegal cancellation of results from three local governments and strongholds of the PDP by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), even after they have been announced by the returning officers, the PDP would have been robbed of its well deserved victory in those areas.
“As a responsible party committed to national unity and democracy, our members have remained peaceful and orderly; our candidates have been conceding defeat in the interest of peace, while we elect to channel our protest to the appropriate quarters.
"The same have not been seen of the APC, which members has unleashed mayhem and harass our supporters in states where PDP candidates clearly won, such as Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ondo, Rivers and Gombe.
“While we urge INEC to take disciplinary actions against its erring officials, we strongly call to question the sincerity of some of the observers, especially regarding their failure to raise issues on the irregularities that characterised the voting pattern in most of the states where APC candidates have been declared winners.
“Finally, we invite Nigerians and the international community to note the emerging dangerous trend in our country.
"There are rising concerns that the APC may have commenced a systematic destruction of democratic institutions and culture, which the PDP successfully nurtured in the last 16 years.
"Indeed, we wonder if there is a deliberate attempt to also erode the discipline and professionalism of our security forces and entrench the culture of impunity our society."
The party, however, urged Nigerians not to despair, but to brace up and resist all anti-democratic and dictatorial tendencies.
It also directed all its elected and appointed officials to be ready to make sacrifices, ensure judicious use of resources and gear up for a rescue mission in the overall interest of the Nigerian people.
