PDP to APC: We’ll resist any attempt to rig off-cycle polls

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to perish any thoughts of “manipulating” Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.

In a statement on Thursday via its X page, the party said it would not allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to manipulate the electoral process.

It added that the people of the three states have been mobilised to go to every length allowed by law to protect their votes.

“In fact, our party states in clear terms that anybody who attempts to rig or manipulate the election in any way may have to deal with the legitimate wrath of the people,” the statement reads.

“The PDP specifically cautions Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his puppet candidate, Usman Ododo, to accept their rejection by the people for their abysmal failure in government and get ready to concede defeat on Saturday.”

The party said opinion polls indicate that the PDP candidates are leading in the three states, adding that any electoral path that does not reflect the will of the people will be firmly resisted.

It said it has also received messages and visits from many prominent Imo citizens, expressing their support for Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP candidate.

“Of course, no well-meaning citizen of Imo State will lend support to Governor Hope Uzodimma whose administration has wrecked the economy of the State, brought untold hardship to the people and turned Imo State into a theater of violence, killings and kidnapping,” the statement reads.

The PDP also said the delay by Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to redeploy Sylvia Agu, the Imo resident electoral commissioner, is “heightening tension and capable of pushing the people to resort to self-help”.

“We are in a democracy and INEC must respect the wishes and aspiration of the people and stakeholders in the electoral process,” the statement reads.

“The people of Imo State have spoken clearly in demanding that Prof. Agu must not participate in any capacity whatsoever in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State, given her antecedents in favouring the APC in previous elections.

“The PDP is marching to victory with the people of Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States notwithstanding the antics of the APC.”