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Tag: Rigging

  • Some big politicians will lose, there will be massive rigging – Primate Ayodele

    Some big politicians will lose, there will be massive rigging – Primate Ayodele

    Ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in the country, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued some warnings to politicians.

    According to the cleric, there will be massive rigging but some mighty politician will fall.

    He added that the BVAS device wouldn’t stop rigging because it has been compromised already.

    Cleric Ayodele made this remark via a statement signed and released by his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho.

    He noted that many who don’t know what to do will be rigged out, even the popular candidates while urging every one of them to start working on their lapses to avoid being rigged out of the election.

    Ayodele said: ‘’There will be a tsunami in the governorship elections that will be held tomorrow, the mighty will fall, don’t underestimate any party and there is no way rigging won’t be in tomorrow’s election even with the BVAS. Everyone should go and work because BVAS will not stop rigging, rigging has come to stay in Nigeria’s election.’’

    ‘’BVAS is not the answer to Nigeria’s election malpractices, it has been manipulated. Some people will be rigged out technically, and BVAS will rig out who is popular and bring in the unpopular. Don’t rely on BVAS, it is rigging in a technological way.’’

    ‘’Anyone who wins may not be removed by the court except God changes the mind of the judge, the rigging will be so perfect.’’

  • Don’t rig the elections: An open letter to Uhuru Kenyatta from Nigeria – By Eferovo Igho

    Don’t rig the elections: An open letter to Uhuru Kenyatta from Nigeria – By Eferovo Igho

    Dear Mr Kenyatta,

    Please don’t rig the elections. Let Kenyans vote for the leader(s) of their choice.

    You don’t say ‘I will not hand over to so and so’, which you have said repeatedly and over time. That is a statement of chaos of unimaginable distractious consequence. The only way to achieve that is by rigging. And it is very disastrious.  Kenya is a democracy. Let the people give the mandate, and you handover. Even sane emperors know they don’t own a Nation.

    You were given the Presidency by the people and not by the highly esteemed Kibaki, who you apparently have learnt nothing from because of a dead political father whose instructions you are carrying out in the present Presidential race just to settle with his ‘political enemy’ all to safeguard his family which he feared may be dealt with for obvious reasons. It was a deal secondarily to avoid another Kalengin family competing with the Moi family.

    Didn’t my heart and spirit here in Nigeria go with you in all those meetings the said ‘political enemy’, the now dead man’s son, the now dead man (who incidentally is far the worst leader Kenya ever had and second worst in the Continent after Idi Amin Dada Oumee) and you were having before his demise? Didn’t we see from here why and how your Deputy was prevented by the man’s son from seeing the man at that time?

    Do the dead mandate? Let the living do. You have chosen a course that ordinarily you wouldn’t have taken before the so-called Handsake which came on the heels of those aforesaid meetings with the then old man. What may have been transferred in that Handshake may be as horrible as your actions since then. And it gives life to the many readings of some spiritual covenants made from Kisumu to Ramogi Hills, with Mama and baby present.

    Since then you helplessly care no more for your own thus playing perfectly the Biblical Ostrich, which please see: Job 39:13-18 (ESV):

    “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.”

    You’ve been acting proudly probably because of your family background forgetting that whatever it (that background) is, is by the courtesy of Kenyans, and whatever you are today is by same. You don’t own Kenya because you are President. Kibaki never own it. Kenya own the Presidents. So, never wave your wings so proudly like the Ostrich. Don’t delude Kenyans to think you love them. Your ‘pinions and plumage’ are not of love, but just like the Ostrich you are killing your ‘loved ones’ bringing many feet to crush and trample on them. That is what the evil handshake has done.

    You tried in a way I’m yet to understand to mutilate your Country’s Constitution spending to Everest the people’s money until a very dangerous ‘reggae’ was stopped. Your own Party, a National Party is not even today now sure of winning Kiambu County. You used your own hands to tear it apart and we watched from here dazed with our hands akimbo. Then your government came crashing down. Haba!  Did the evil powers you once castigated came on your unguarded hour? With bouyant economy handed over by Mai Kibaki setting the stage to becoming a ‘tiger’ nation, today the Kenyan nation is wallowing and suffocating under in debts.

    And then too, you attempted with no mean strange strength to cause total confusion in the Mt, among your own people. Rather than having that negative success, it is they who apparently knew you were confused and therefore stayed intact. They overcame the Ostrich spirit. Talk of how you are out to destroy your own: The list runs ad infinitum.

    Have you forgotten wisdom? Have you no more share of understanding? Of the Ostrich spirit I again allude to. Now is it the Country itself by acts of rigging you want to set on fire? Please don’t.

    For, we fear your alleged night meetings that are going on, you spiritedly denying opponents rally venues, fake opinion polls sponsored to shout out voodoo figures etc, and your repeated undemocratic audacity not to handover to a certain person are all harbingers of your plan: Rigging. What a bad way to set the stage for crises.

    Don’t you love Kenya your country. It is your own. Do you prefer one dead man who died in good oldage to lives of millions of Kenyans most of whom are in their tender age? And now to think of actualising any rigging plot will be the climax of playing the Biblical Ostrich. Please don’t. It does not augur with nations that do that.

    May I say parenthetically that the other day you were in Tanzania praising Magufuli to high heavens and said specifically too that he has taught Africa to govern without borrowing from foreign countries, even though you have carelessly borrowed from those places unceasingly, AND WORSE STILL, KEPT BORROWING AFTER THAT MAGUFULI PRAISES, AND STILL BORROWING.

    Visiting Kenya frequently in the years of Kibaki and seeing live what Kenya is in your days and worse still what has become of Kenya after that sorry Handshake, I am too saddened. Too bad. The only thing that is in tact now may well be your family. Your hands have destroyed what is yours. And today, Kenya is already bleeding.

    Don’t get it to bleed further. Let the people pick their leader by ballot – that is free, fare and transparent, which is why Chebukati is there. It is not your station. Please! Don’t allow the spirit of that old man control you from the grave. He is dead. Enough of this Kid-Presidency controlled by a ‘triumvirate’ of dead Moi, the Bondo man and Mama.

    DON’T RIG THE ELECTIONS IF YOU LOVE KENYA.  Please, please and please.

    God bless Kenya.

     

    Igho writes from Makurdi, Nigeria

  • Perish your plans for 2023, Buhari warns election riggers

    Perish your plans for 2023, Buhari warns election riggers

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja advised those planning to rig the 2023 general elections to perish the thought.

    He vowed to use every legitimate means to protect the votes of Nigerians.

    The president gave the advice at a dinner he had with members of the diplomatic corps in Nigeria to break Thursday’s Ramadan fasting.

    “Those planning to rig the 2023 elections should think twice because I intend to resolutely protect and defend the sacred will of the Nigerian people to be expressed through the ballot box,’’ he said.

    He also cautioned against foreign interference at the elections.

    “As you are all aware, the tenure of this administration ends on May 29, 2023. Typical of election years all over the world, the tempo of political activities is high.

    “That is the nature of democracy. I am committed to bequeathing a stronger culture of credible elections to Nigeria than what I met.

    “As Nigeria goes through this trajectory, I urge our friends in the global community, represented by you members of the diplomatic corps to adopt a positive role.

    “A role that reinforces the doctrine of respect for our internal affairs and respect for facts, devoid of pre-conceived notions and bias,’’ he stressed.

    On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Buhari called for greater consideration for humanitarian conditions in the affected areas, warning that “’the conflict will get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found.

    “The war has lasted too long; costs so much and hurt too many people well beyond the immediate theatres.

    “The rest of the world is progressively facing the impact of the conflict and this will certainly get worse if an immediate resolution is not found, not least in the area of food security.’’

    Buhari welcomed the recent initiative of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres, who visited Moscow and Kyiv and commended his efforts in search of a ceasefire as a prelude to other enduring solutions.

    “The UN must continue to actively lead the way for engagements that would ultimately unlock peace through diplomacy,’’ he said.

    He urged the world, especially the Muslim community to use the solemn and rewarding month of Ramadan to intensify prayers for the de-escalation of the conflict and for the return of peace to the world.

    He also used the occasion to apprise members of the international community of some critical issues currently on the front burner of his administration’s agenda and spirited efforts at handling them.

    “We continue to make steady progress in the daunting tasks of combating insecurity; fighting corruption; diversifying the economy; promoting good governance; and containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “In spite of the many challenges we face, and continue to face, we have instituted measures to plug leakages, improve the economy and enhance the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “These include renewal of vital infrastructure, including rail and roads; implementation of the N2.3-trillion Economic Sustainability Plan to create jobs and provide support to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

    “They also include the launch of the National Development Plan (2021-2025) to spur economic growth and leverage science, technology and innovation.

    “Other measures include the establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs with the responsibility for ensuring coherence between development policies, plans and strategies.

    “Some more are the launch, in collaboration with the UNDP, of the Nigeria SDGs Implementation Plan (2020-2030), to prioritise and mainstream the SDGs into their medium and long-term development policies and plans,’’ he said.

    The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

    The UN set them up in 2015 and they are intended to be achieved by 2030.

    On COVID-19, the president, who restated Nigeria’s demand for vaccine equity, said the country would continue to expand its capacities for managing the pandemic.

    The president, who also spoke on regional security, told the diplomats that the impact of the Libyan crisis on the countries in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, West and Central Africa were enormous and catastrophic.

    He expressed concern about the proliferation of small and light weapons in the regions, made worse by the uncontrolled expulsion of foreign fighters from Libya without adequate consultations with the countries of the region.

    “The world needs to work together to combat these common challenges.

    “I call on all your respective countries to reflect on this and collaborate with countries in the regions to combat this consequential spread of violence,’’ he stressed.

    On the fight against Boko Haram, the president said: “as you know well, Nigeria has made significant progress in combating the Boko Haram group in the Northeast.

    “We are, however, recently confronted with new tactics deployed by the enemy to threaten our democratic values, as well as the common peace and freedom we enjoy in this country,’’ he noted.

    Buhari commended Nigeria’s defence and security servicemen and women for their recent successes in routing the terrorists.

    He said he was confident that insecurity in Nigeria would soon be brought under control.

    He also acknowledged the support of Nigeria’s friends and partners in the global community, particularly the EU and the United States.

    “This is for their understanding, support and agreement to allow us to procure vital equipment and resources to successfully propagate this war,’’ he said.

    According to him, there is the need to intensify the cooperation and collaboration in spite of other major challenges confronting the international community.

    Responding on behalf of the diplomats, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Amb. Ibrahima Salaheddine pledged that the international community would continue to support Nigeria before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

    Salaheddinem is the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria,

    “As Nigeria enters another electoral year, we pray Almighty God to put the electoral process under divine guidance for peaceful, free and fair elections,’’ he said.

    He noted that COVID-19 truncated the tradition of meeting the president for the breaking of the fast for two years.

    Salaheddinem congratulated the Nigerian government for curtailing the spread of the pandemic.

    “The enlightened leadership of President Buhari largely brought its spread in Nigeria under control,’’ he said.

  • Rerun, By Elections: Buhari meets INEC chair, IGP; warns against rigging

    Rerun, By Elections: Buhari meets INEC chair, IGP; warns against rigging

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the police not to allow rigging of any election, but ensure free, fair and credible electoral process.

    The president met with Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, other top officials of the electoral body, and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu in Abuja on Tuesday.

    INEC has a minimum of 28 rerun and by-elections this January alone, and Buhari has told the commission to ensure that the game was played by the rules, without fear or favour.

    “Those that you declare as winners must be the candidates that the people have chosen. Democracy is about free will, and the will of the people must be allowed to prevail. Get your acts right, and leave no room for underhand tricks or manipulation,” he said.

    The President said he was determined to give Nigeria an electoral system that meets with best practices anywhere in the world, and charged the electoral umpire to stick to the rules of fair play and adherence to justice.

    From the police, Buhari wanted nothing than a scrupulous securing of the electoral process, without bias or favouritism.

    “Our elections must be done in violence-free atmosphere. The process must be free, fair, decent, devoid of intimidation or malpractices. It is the duty of the police to accomplish that, and it is what I expect in the elections immediately ahead, and going forward,” he said.

    Both INEC and the police pledged a fidelity to the rules and regulations, stating that they know President Buhari as someone passionately committed to fair play.

  • Supplementary poll: Kwankwaso speaks on violence, rigging in Kano

    The leader of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State and serving senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh rerun elections in the state.

    He said there were no elections on Saturday in the state.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke on Saturday to journalists at his residence, condemned the alleged role of the police under the command of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Anthony Micheal–Obizi, who he said provided back up for thugs to perpetrate violence and massive rigging.

    He said the widespread violence and rigging of the supplementary polls took place in all the 28 local government areas affected by the rerun.

    “It is very sad that elections could not hold today because, by yesterday evening, all the polling units in the rerun areas were overtaken by thugs. Very early morning today, elections were concluded in many polling centres.

    “And even more concerning is the role of the police under the leadership of DIG Anthony Obizie who actually backed up thugs under the leadership of the Kano state government. It is a very sad day for all of us and a very sad day for democracy.

    “There are very few places where elections took place, especially here in the city. But there was no election in the overwhelming places because they were overtaken by thugs. People were going around with ballot papers and result sheets, writing what they wanted and submitted them to the INEC officials.

    “Our prayer is that these elections should be cancelled and re-scheduled so that we can have better, free and fair elections in Kano. I don’t think by all standards, the elections here in Kano can hold water. It is unacceptable and I don’t think INEC can go ahead to count because there is nothing to count,” Kwankwaso said.

     

  • Presidential poll: We have exclusive evidences of APC rigging – PDP

    …as party insists on challenging Buhari’s victory at the court

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has said that nobody will stop the party from contesting the outcome of the February 23 Presidential Election in the court.

    Mr Secondus, while addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, said the party believed that justice would be done at the court.

    “We will go to court. Nobody will stop us from going to court and bring out all of the facts both the international observers and some people have not seen.

    “We will unearth them at the court and I believe that justice will be done at the court.

    “Because, if we continue to suppress injustice and go sentimental, the country will continue to pile on gun powder that will explode one day.

    “So much injustice has been done in this country and if we allow it and it continues to pile, nobody knows what will happen.

    “So, that’s why we decided as good citizens and law-abiding and people who believe in rule of law that we will go,” Mr Secondus said.

    Speaking on the recent meeting the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had with the National Peace Committee, Mr Secondus said there was no condition given to the party, as they were only invited to state their grievances.

    “There was no condition. Initially, we were not to talk with them because a decision had been taken to go to court, but because of the personalities involved, we said ok, let’s just talk.

    “There was no condition. There was no request of any condition.

    “We made it clear that unless the injustices are addressed, there is no room for peace. It is only when you address the injustice that you can now sit down for peace,” he said.

    Mr Secondus also spoke on the alleged militarisation of the elections particularly in the South South and South East.

    He said it was one of the strategies the ruling party used in denying PDP victory.

    He added the development was also responsible for alleged killing of innocent electorate and suppression of voters who were either scared out or chased away from polling units.

    He said even by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) own record voter turnout in last Saturday’s election fell to about 36 per cent from 44 per cent it was in 2015.

    “While the military was suppressing voters in PDP strong hold areas in the South, a different abracadabra was going on in some northern states particularly in Kano, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara States where numbers refuse to add up.

    “In Borno, Yobe and Zamfara States, confirmed report shows that there was non-compliance in the use of Smart card reader as approved by INEC rules”.

    He added that “The same applies to cancelled votes, in Nasarawa State over 115,000votes cancelled, Kogi 79,000 votes, Plateau 30,000 votes indicating that these high incidence of vote cancellation were designed to suppress the margin of victory in PDP strongholds.

    Mr Secondus urged PDP members and supporters across the country not to despair but to remain steadfast and focused.

    “Like our presidential candidate assured, we shall triumph at the end because democracy has come to stay in this country and is staying by the grace of God.

    “I also wish to reiterate to our security agencies particularly the Army that they are not at war with any section of her citizens and they must try to be professional in their duties by staying away from election matters as directed by the Supreme Court of the land”.

    Highlight of the press conference include one minute silence for Nigerians who lost their lives on the election day and in the course of celebrating the outcome.

     

  • 2019: NSA speaks on alleged plans to shutdown internet during elections

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed the allegation by the governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyelsom Wike, that there were plans by the ONSA to rig the forthcoming general elections by shutting down the nation’s internet system.

    The NSA, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno(rtd), in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

    He advised Nigerians to disregard the allegation entirely.

    The statement reads :”The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to the allegation making the rounds in the media that the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work with internet service providers to shut down internet access during the forthcoming elections to facilitate rigging of the 2019 elections.

    “The office wishes to advise the general public to disregard the allegation which is disinformation.

    “This office wishes to state that the internet and associated communications infrastructure are major components of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) which the ONSA is mandated to ensure its security.

    “Accordingly, the office, in collaboration with relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government, makes continuous efforts to protect them and improve service delivery to Nigerians.

    “Furthermore, every single national security platform in the country rides on the same internet to function. Therefore ‘shutting down’ the internet is akin to shutting down national development and security.

    “The Office of the National Security Adviser remains committed to protecting the rights of the public to access Information and Communication Technology facilities. The office also remains non-partisan and committed to ensuring that Nigerians freely exercise their civic rights.”

  • Rigging will not be allowed in Benue – Gov. Ortom

    Rigging will not be allowed in Benue – Gov. Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, has assured residents of the state that there would be no room for rigging and manipulation of votes in the forthcoming elections.

    Ortom gave the assurance on Saturday in Vandeikya Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    He dispelled fears that the election would be rigged, noting that the people would guard their votes jealously to forestall rigging.

    “We are not going to allow that to happen in Benue. We will certainly leave nothing to chance.

    He promised not to disappoint the people if voted back to office, stressing that he would deliver on his mandates.

    “I want to implore you to vote en masse for all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Do not select any of them to vote for no matter the circumstances,” he said.

    Also, former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, alleged neglect of the Tiv people whom he described as the fourth largest tribe in the country, in political appointments.

    The State Chairman of the party, Mr John Ngbede, also solicited votes for candidates of the PDP in the elections and urged them to guard their votes to avoid rigging.

    A political chieftain in Benue North East, Mr Demenongo Unom, urged the people to vote for Ortom as a reward for defending the Benue people

  • PDP strategizes on ‘rigging elections’ head to head with APC

    PDP strategizes on ‘rigging elections’ head to head with APC

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) said it will henceforth contend with the All Progressives Congress (APC) head to head, means to means, scheme to scheme, shenanigan for shenanigan, in all ramifications and magnitude in ‘rigging elections’.

    TheNewsGuru reports the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan made this known on Tuesday in a statement, while also stressing that beginning with the Osun State governorship election next month, the party will vehemently dismantle all APC rigging machinery.

    The PDP said it has thoroughly reviewed all infractions, barefaced suppression, unleashing of violence and unabashed use of security forces and compromised electoral officers to rig elections against it since the assumption of office of President Muhammadu Buhari and vowed to never again allow the APC and the Federal Government to continue to use foul means to usurp power as it has done in the past and merely ask the PDP to go to court.

    “The PDP has particularly reviewed the rigging of Edo state governorship election in 2016, the blatant rigging of the July 14, 2018 Ekiti state governorship election and the last Saturday’s federal constituency bye-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states.

    “The review shows that the PDP won in all the elections but was viciously manipulated out by the APC- controlled Federal Government through the instrumentality of violence against PDP agents and supporters, vote buying, use of thugs, ballot snatching, harassment, arrests, maiming and even killing of PDP supporters in addition to use of compromised electoral officers to cancel votes belonging to the PDP, alter results from polling centers and then return APC candidates as winners.

    “Henceforth, we will vehemently dismantle all APC rigging machinery in future elections, beginning with the Osun governorship election next month.

    “Now that it has become manifest to Nigerians and all parties that the APC is only interested in rigging elections brazenly, we will henceforth contend with APC, head to head, means to means, scheme to scheme, shenanigan for shenanigan, in all ramifications and magnitude, to discomfit them in all coming elections in the country.” the PDP statement read.

    The statement further read: “We take very strong consideration of the open boasts and chest-thumping on the use of thugs by officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency and the APC, particularly on their rigging of the Ekiti governorship and the federal bye-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states, where APC thugs were allowed to freely use weapons against PDP supporters.

    “This is in addition to the unholy convergence of APC governors and security goons in constituencies where elections are held to supervise the free distribution of funds to buy votes, bribe electoral officers and openly intimidate the people.

    “The PDP therefore resolves that in as much as it remains a law abiding political party, conducting its affairs strictly within the ambit of our nation’s electoral laws; the party will henceforth directly and physically confront and resist the desperate and greedy power grabbers from always having a field day in seizing our democratic institutions and circumventing the rules during elections.

    “Consequently, the PDP directs all its state governors, officials at state and zonal chapters, national and state assembly members and all other elected leaders at all levels to get ready to move into Osun state and provide all support necessary and germane in all the nooks and crannies of Osun state in the forthcoming election.

    “Similarly, the PDP directs all its presidential aspirants to move all their political machinery into Osun State within this period, as well as get prepared to physically participate in the election process.

    “Our insistence as a party is for a level playing ground, a free, fair and credible electoral process, where all votes will count just as our party provided for General Buhari in 2015, that enabled him to be elected as president.

    “However, we will not accept our respect for democratic tenets to be taken as a mark of cowardice or weakness”.

     

  • Ekiti poll: Don’t mistake rigging, gross misconduct for acceptance, PDP tells Buhari, APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose candidate, Prof. Olusola Kolapo, was defeated by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, not to rejoice over the victory of its candidate in the governorship election held in Ekiti State on Saturday yet.

    The PDP said the APC and the Presidency should not mistake the alleged rigging in the election as acceptance by Nigerians.

    The party declared that it was shameful for President Muhammadu Buhari, who it said claimed to be an anti-corruption champion, to glee over what it described as act of electoral corruption that it warned was capable of truncating the nation’s democratic process.

    The PDP said it found it strange that the President could not condemn the alleged emasculation and subversion of the will of Ekiti people and the alleged stealing of another party’s victory by what it called brute force.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, also said that the PDP noted the alleged unsavoury statements by the Presidency, celebrating the alleged subjugation of Ekiti people as a stamp for President Buhari.

    He said, “If, for President Buhari and the APC, the subjugation of the people, as witnessed in Ekiti, amounts to an election, then the nation is headed to a serious crisis, as such will be resisted with all legitimate forces available within our laws in the defence of our nation’s democracy.

    “The APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission must note that what happened in Ekiti, as a single state, cannot be pulled through in a general election, especially where the people have made up their minds to seek a new president.

    “Nigeria is too big and too complex to be subjugated by a single individual or group of individuals, as any attempt to do so will definitely consume the conspirators.

    “Moreover, while we are still pursuing the recovery of our stolen mandate in Ekiti, we state in very strong terms that this will be the last time the PDP will, under any circumstance whatsoever, allow itself to be manipulated out at the polls at any level.”

    He urged members and supporters of the PDP to continue to remain calm over the alleged daylight robbery that he said happened in Ekiti State, despite the alleged provocations by the APC and the Presidency.

    He said that leaders of the party were already making efforts to redress the injustice that he said was meted out to the party in Ekiti State.