By Eric Elezuo

Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the processes and outcomes of the just concluded Edo and Ondo states governorship elections held on September 21 and November 16, 2024 respectively, which produced candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as winners.

The PDP, worried at what it called the rape of democracy, perpetrated by the APC, released a statement in Jos, Plateau State, during its Governors’ Forum meeting, describing the process as manipulated.

In a communique issued after their two-day meeting in Jos, Plateau State, which ended on Saturday, the governors, who also noted the concerns of Nigerians over the seeming divisions within the party’s ranks and files, stated categorically that they remained resolute in their determination to ensure unity and cohesion of what they described as the great party that Nigerians trusted as the best platform for democratic governance.

While accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the results of the Edo State governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governors described the poll as a rape of democracy.

The governors also alleged that the APC manipulated the results of the Ondo State governorship election after openly buying votes, adding however that they were still studying the election documents.

“The forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.

“Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in the 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,” the communique explained.

In the communique which the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, signed, the governors hinted that they also accepted the latest postponement of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in empathy with Governor Eno Bassey of Akwa Ibom State, whose wife will be buried on the same day, November 28, 2024, earlier scheduled for the NEC meeting.

The governors advised the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to call the NEC 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 communique said.

The party also noted with dismay at the groaning hardship the government of President Bola Tinubu is unleashing on Nigerians, and called for a review of the policies that have so far impoverished the citizens.

The statement reads in full:

“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

“The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.”

The meeting, held at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, was attended by the principal organs of the party: l NWC, PDP-GF, BOT, NASS Forum, Former Governors Forum, Former Ministers’ Forum and other leaders of the party.

The communique added, “The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.

“The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC 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 notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in the 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.

“The Forum recognises the good work that the majority of members of NASS are doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally.

“The Forum commiserates with the Government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident, which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. The Forum also commiserates with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker expulsion whereby scores of people lost their lives, and several others were injured.

“The Forum expresses its gratitude to the Government and People of Plateau State for not only hosting the meeting but extending to all the participants the hospitality for which Jos is reputed. In particular, the meeting commends the Government of the State for the visible and laudable transformation in social services, tourism and transportation that have taken place and ensures all Nigerians look forward, with GENUINE HOPE, to the replication of this not only presently but after 2027 when the party would reclaim its rightful position in the Nigerian political scene.”

The PDP has been engulfed in crisis since the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, assumed office following the removal of the substantive National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu by the court.

At the 98th NEC meeting held on April 18, 2024, the party leaders approved the formation of a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, as well as the conduct of Ward and State Congresses.

They also mandated the North-central Caucus to consult widely on the issue of replacing the acting National Chairman with a substantive National Chairman.

The governors commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident, which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira, and also with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker explosion in the state.

Governors who attended the meeting included Senator Mohammed (Bauchi); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) – host governor; Agbu Kefas (Taraba); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

The Delta and Enugu state governors were represented by their deputies – Monday Onyeme and Ifeanyi Ossai, respectively.

The meeting, held at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, was also attended by the members of the principal organs of the party, members of the NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), federal lawmakers, former governors, and former ministers.

The party vows to regain power in 2027.