The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulated the Edo State governorship poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party in a statement by the publicity secretary of PDP in the state, Mr Nwanosike Sam, over the weekend in Port Harcourt, accused INEC of manipulating the Edo poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to Vanguard, the party spokesperson alleged that the result finally released by INEC on the election did not tally with what was collated at most of the polling units in Edo State. He warned that such alleged irregularity would not be tolerated in the coming re-run elections in Rivers State. The party said: “The result that was announced in Edo State did not correspond with the results collated from most of the polling units. We commend former President Jonathan for showing Nigerians that he could supervise a credible election. As an opposition party candidate, the outgoing governor of Edo State won an election conducted by the PDP. But today, they will not allow the will of the people in that state to prevail.” The PDP called on INEC to fix a date for the re-run elections in Rivers State, but warned that the people would resist any attempt by the electoral body to announce result for Tai local government area of the state. It said no re-run election took place there in the last March 19 re-run election. Nwanosike Sam later admitted about 1,500 members of the APC in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, who defected to the PDP.
Meanwhile, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded Edo State election has opened up after his loss. Ize-Iyamu who spoke with Vanguard after his defeat by Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that he was committing his counterparts into the hands of God. While thanking the people of the state for pouring out en masse to vote their choice candidate. The clergyman stated that the result of the election has brought gloom and sadness to the people of the state, but that he would not want anyone to take laws into his hands.
