This is also as the state chapter of the party blamed the cancellation of results in parts of the state on use of fake election materials , adding that security operatives in connivance with electoral officers had connived to ‘smuggle in fake election materials with a view to rigging the election.’
The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the only reason for the seizure of the results is the fact that the PDP candidates were in clear and overwhelming victory in all the reruns, prompting the APC, in connivance with INEC, to seek to use the delay to manipulate the results.
The party said it is disappointing that INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has not been able to conduct any conclusive election in few constituencies and states so far and wondered what would be the case when the entire country is involved.
“Also grossly unacceptable is the shoddy work by security operatives leading to escalation of violence, avoidable deaths and eventual cancellation of election results in 8 local Government areas in the state.
The party said the nation and the international community should hold INEC, security operatives and the All Progressives Congress (APC) responsible should there be a breakdown of law and order in the state over the non-release of the final results.
“Nigerians and the international community can now see the desperation of the APC, which has now arm-twisted INEC in the unholy bid to alter the results of the elections and subvert the will of the people.
“We want the APC and INEC to mark the salient fact that the PDP, the people of Rivers state and indeed all Nigerians are already aware of the results from respective polling centers, wards and local government areas and will in no way whatsoever accept any final result that does not tally with the actual and already established figures from the polling units.
“We wish to remind the APC and INEC that Rivers state is a known stronghold of the PDP and the results from the elections cannot show otherwise. INEC should therefore understand that Nigerians are aware that in withholding the final results, they are ostensibly preparing grounds for chaos in the state.
“While we invite all to note the avoidable growing tension occasioned by the desperation of the APC to steal the mandate of the people, we caution INEC to extricate itself from the evil web and immediately release all the final results of the ballot as cast by the people and nothing more.
On its parts, the state chapter of the party through the chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam blamed the precarious situation on the Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi whom he said had threatened to use any means possible to stop the ruling PDP government in the State from winning the election.
“It’s very unfortunate and shameful that despite all efforts and assurances from security agencies and all stakeholders prior to last Saturday’s National and State Assembly re-run elections in the State, some All Progressives Congress, APC desperate and agitated political office seekers still went on to connive with certain electoral officers and military personnel to smuggle in fake election materials with a view to rigging the election, leading to the cancellation of election in some parts of the State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and not as a result of violence as being speculated.
“We are however very grateful to God and wish to thank the gallant Rivers people who stood their ground refusing to see this happen against their civic right to democratically choose their leaders and representatives.
According to the State PDP boss, “if not for the grace of God and the vigilance of the people, these desperadoes would have succeeded but they were hasty and haphazard in their execution that their plot aroused suspicion that was confirmed on critical and close examination of the election materials which were discovered to be fake while the genuine essential materials like result sheets were held back.
“We’ll continue to insist on fair, free and credible elections and refuse to be intimidated or provoked. All we want is the right thing be done.
“We also enjoin the electoral officers to help our democratic experiment by rejecting advances, inducements and even intimidations to make them do the wrong things. History will not forget them if they just do this and Rivers State and Nigeria will be better for it”, Obuah declared.
The PDP chairman however urged the Rivers people to be calm and prayerful in the face of this affront and plot to incite crisis in the State, re-assuring that all will be over soon to the glory of God.
