It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party have lamented their losses in Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, describing it as a rape of democracy.
This is just as they gave the National Working Committee (NWC) a February 2025 ultimatum to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The governors made this known during their meeting in Jos, Plateau State, where they also discussed party and national issues, as well as a review of the just concluded elections in Edo and Ondo states where the party lost in the two governorship elections.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, they said, “The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.
“Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes.
“The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”
Chairman of the forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed in his remarks, emphasised the PDP’s unity and its position as an unbreakable political party offering Nigerians hope and good governance.
He said, “We are here on the Plateau, and Governor Mutfwang has shown us that Plateau is indeed a melting pot where everyone is welcome.
“The PDP remains an indivisible party. Despite minor hiccups, we are united with all organs and leaders of the party. We will continue to work together to provide Nigerians with opportunities for better governance.”
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party.
“The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.
“The Forum empathises with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.
On the NEC meeting, they said, “The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party.
“The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.
“The Forum empathises with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.”
On his part, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Seyi Makinde, also reassured PDP supporters of the governors’ determination to reform the party and restore its leadership role in Nigeria.
Present at the meeting were Governors of Zamfara, Oyo, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi and Plateau were present at the meeting, while those of Delta and Enugu States were represented. Governors of Osun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states were absent without representation.