From Msurshima Andrew, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Benue State, has demanded the cancellation of Saturday’s Local Government elections, demanding the conduct of a fresh exercise as the election was married by irregularities.
The PDP made this call in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Sunday.
The party warned that failing to heed their call, they will not hesitate to explore legal options available to them as a party.
The PDP condemned and rejected in absolute totality, “the travesty that unfolded yesterday, 5th October, in the name of local government elections in the state.
The party in the statement said “the facade was characterized by numerous well documented incidents of irregularities, including the shocking non-deployment of election officials or electoral materials to polling units across the state.
“In the few areas where some semblance of the charade was orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress, (APC), led administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, evidences erupted everywhere, including media space, of ballot stuffing and mass thumb-printing of ballots.
“Needless to say that the Benue electorate, who turned up for the exercise were left waiting all day in vain at the polling units, and in the end only came away more deeply disillusioned with the state of public administration in Benue State under Governor Alia.
“PDP is deeply saddened at this brazen display of lack of integrity, not only by the Benue State Governor, but also by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) which reneged on its earlier promises to guarantee the electorate their right to exercise their voting franchise.
“Both Governor Alia and BSIEC have failed the Benue people and in so doing, violated their sworn oath to uphold the integrity of the electoral process in the state.
“PDP takes the stand beside the disenfranchised people of Benue State, and expressly states before the whole world that there was no local government polls held in the state yesterday.”
The PDP said “What transpired was nothing more than a mockery of democracy, a charade orchestrated to deceive the people and foist a puppet regime at the 23 local government councils of the state to continue with the vicious circle of poverty, breeding underdevelopment at that tier of administration.
“This blatant abuse of power and the unparalleled manipulation of the electoral process cannot be tolerated in any democratic setting, and accordingly we demand that the sham exercise be cancelled by Governor Hyacinth Alia and a fresh exercise be conducted in line with extant electoral laws and in conformity of integrity of the electoral process.”
The party urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to measure up to the standards required to keep the electoral culture growing and not act in a manner that threatens to undermine it rather.
According to the party, “PDP is the party of choice for the Benue electorate and under a free and fair contest any day in the state, the people will choose our great party over the APC which under Governor Alia has lost whatever little credibility and appeal it had with the people.
“Yesterday would not have been an exception as PDP, having taken seriously the promises of BSIEC to hold free and fair elections into the local government councils, had mobilized to have its candidates voted into office to offer what PDP knows best how to offer; Good Governance.
“We reiterate our call for the cancellation of yesterday’s council polls and the conduct of a fresh exercise, failing which we will explore legal options available to us as a party.”
The PDP said it remains committed to fighting for, and demanding for democratic processes that uphold the values of fairness, transparency, and accountability and will not waver in the pursuit of a better future for all citizens.
