UPDATED: #NigeriaDecides2019: PDP Rejects Presidential Election Results

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected results of the
presidential elections being announced by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).

Uche Secondus, PDP national chairman, said the results being
announced are “incorrect and unacceptable” to the party.

He said this at an ongoing press conference in Abuja.

The PDP national chairman said the party has discovered
“irregularities” in results so far announced from Nasarawa state
and the FCT.

He alleged that the current administration “colluded” with INEC
and security agencies to manipulate results from polling units
across the country.

“Our collation centres have the original results from all the
polling units in the country. That is from where are going to
reclaim our results,” he said.

“The results are incorrect and unacceptable to our party.
Officials of the APC working with INEC have decided to alter
results to affect our people. This must now be resisted by every
well-meaning Nigerian.

“INEC must live up to its responsibility. They are under
pressure. We have the facts and when the time comes, we begin to
release them.”

Secondus added the PDP will update Nigerians “as time goes on”
regarding their decisions in other states yet to be announced.

Below reads the FULL STATEMENT: PDP accuses APC, INEC of
manipulating results in favour of Buhari

Our Democracy in Under Threat

Protocols:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is forced to take a stand and
make the following pronouncements at this crucial point because our
democracy is under threat of derailment.

Firstly, I want to categorically state that our collation
centers have all original results from every polling unit, in every
ward, in every Local Government Area (LGA) in Nigeria, of which the
international community is well aware, implying all results
currently being announced by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) is incorrect thus unacceptable to our party and
people.

Secondly, officials of both President Buharis government and the
All Progressive Congress (APC), working with INEC officers, have
tried to alter the course of history and disenfranchise our people
through the cancellation and manipulation of figures for results
already announced at polling units, nationwide, in Local Government
Areas (LGAs) where our party, the PDP, had commanding votes; this
must now be resisted by every well meaning Nigerian.

Thirdly, the ruling partys strategy has indeed been murderous,
undignified, and disrespectful of the wishes of the electorate, our
people and the international community who have been in solidarity
with our nation as we attempt to strengthen our democracy and its
institutions.

Fourthly, in full view of the watching world, and despite
efforts by our great party and its agents to adhere to every laid
down provision for the 2019 general elections, the APC in collusion
with INEC have taken aggressive steps, mostly through inducements,
manipulation and incarcerations, using the elements of state power
including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army in
particular, alongside other organizations including the Department
of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to silence the voices of our long suffering
people; this is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace
Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by
members of our security organization with constitutional roles to
play during this civic exercise.

Fifthly, as results trickled in on the Sunday, February 24th,
2019, clearly putting the PDP in the lead, the ruling party and
President Buhari dispatched high-ranking officials to coercively
influence outcomes in different geopolitical zones in the country.
For example:

The minister of the interior, was dispatched to the North West
of the country
The Secretary of the Government of the Federation was dispatched to
the North East of the country; while the
The Attorney General and Minister were dispatched to the South East
and South-South regions.

7. With the INEC IT server hacked by agents of the APC to
manipulate results, we can with certainty state that results from
the following polling units have, for example, been tampered with,
note:

Sarkin Dawaki ward in Doma LGA Nassarawa state
Doka ward in Doma LGA Nassarawa state
Agyaragin Tofa ward
10, 000 illegal votes added to already announced results in Wurno
LGA in Sokoto state
Additionally, violent and destructive attacks have been meted out
to officials while counting at Lafia St. and police barracks
polling units.

8. As if these provocations are not enough, our agents and
officials are constantly arrested and in many cases locked-up for
complaining that Card Readers were not in use in many Northern
states, implying that all results from the Northern part of the
country where Card Readers were not used should be voided in
accordance with INEC guidelines.

9. I also believe, the arrest of Eng. Buba Galadima, who has
been a great symbol of what is courageous about our people goes to
show that one mans ambition is greater than our collective good,
and most probably worth the blood of all Nigerians.

10. In that context, I call for Buba Galadimas immediate and
unconditional release, as well as that of all officials and agents
of the PDP, in the Southwest, who were mostly arrested on the eve
of the elections where intimidation became the APCs sole election
strategy.

11. Despite these provocations, intimidation and attempts to
hijack our democracy and change the course of history, I must, in
fact, convey to our good people the fact that the PDP is on course
to victory and the Presidency; therefore, remain resolute and
steadfast, because our party shares in your uncertainty and
suffering, which must decisively come to a good end for us all.

12. Finally, and once again, we appeal to the leadership of INEC
to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise
our people and derail our democracy, because the world is watching,
and history will indeed pass judgment.

In addition, to the international community; we welcome your
support for our democracy and extend our gratitude with great hope
for our democracy.

Prince Uche Secondus
Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP)

Letter to my grandfather, by Bello Bala
Shagari

Dear Mallam, I was beginning to entertain the thought of you
being immortal after the several encounters and escapes you had
with death, but its eventual inevitability proved me wrong.

Announcing your death was a great honour to me, after working
relentlessly to be not just a grandchild, but an active actor in
your Life and story.

I couldn’t hold back the tears when it dawned on me that you
have departed this world to never return, but remembering that it
was on a Friday cushioned my pain, bringing a forced smile on my
face.

Mallam, hope you are resting well? I wonder how wonderful your
eternal rest is turning out after completing the holy Qur’an more
than 200 times during your 34 years of retirement.

The other side of you which do not get the media attention
slightly got revealed the day I brought out the paper you were
using to track your progress with Tilawatul Qur’an (the recitation
of the holy book), it was a joyful moment as I could see the
astounding amazement on people’s face.

So many amazing things about you did not make to the public, but
the legacies you have left is a story am eager to tell very
soon.

Praises and condolences rained on you when you departed, whether
they are true or just mere words, only time will tell.

It was unfortunate that your death came at a period of an
intense political campaign as there were a lot of politicizing
around your death.

Meanwhile, there was so much controversy over what President
Muhammadu Buhari wrote in the condolence book which sparked outrage
among the public.

Some family members were also quite furious about it, but
President Buhari actually lowered the flags for you for 3 days and
promised to immortalize you but we have no idea when.

There was also an argument about the location of your burial
when the Sultan offered you the privilege of being buried close to
your role model, Shehu Usman Danfodio at Hubare, the sacred
cemetery but your son, my father, Bala, Sarkin Mafara insisted that
you must be buried according to your wish. Uncle Aminu was quite
emotional about it because he believed that you wouldn’t have
rejected such an honour.

I actually wish you could intervene at that point, but it was
the intervention of your son-in-law Prof. Shehu Galadanci that
resolved the argument when he also supported the move that your
wish should be respected as required by Islamic rights and he led
your burial prayer respectively.

The turnout was extremely massive, the whole Shagari town and
beyond was present to witness the burial rites, I must mention the
presence of your adopted son from Yenagoa, Prof. Steven Azaiki who
managed to travel all the way.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led every high delegation to your house
for condolence and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko too was always around
to receive guests. It was a home for all political leaders in
Sokoto state. Goodluck Jonathan came thereafter and shed some tears
while Gen. Babangida called severally because he was abroad. Many
countless dignitaries came too.

But did you know that your best friend Gen Yakubu Gowon is yet
to come? I wonder what you must have told him? Well, both of you
will sort that out because no one comes between the two of you and
even your very own distant son Adamu Mu’azu!

Well, the world is full of wonders. Meanwhile, I’m sure it is
not that they didn’t want to come, you know them well, they must
have some very important excuses. I also learnt that your very own
pal Shehu Malami Sarkin Sudan has been dealing with his health
issues during that period!

I am not mincing any word because that is what you have taught
me, to say the truth no matter what it will cost me.

Many do not know what the truth has cost you, which makes me
break into laughter when some people talk about integrity.

I have been asking them “what is integrity”? Integrity is when a
former Minister of finance for 6 years cannot afford to transport
his family back to his hometown immediately after leaving
office.

Integrity is when a seven-time Minister will retire to run for a
local government councillor.

Integrity is when you’ll be the President of the oil-rich
Nigeria during the oil boom and leave office having not less than
N67,000 in your bank account and have no domestic or foreign
investment.

Even though I know you despise praise, but today that you cannot
stop me, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Turakin Sokoto, uban Ahmadu da
Ibrahim, you are the embodiment of integrity.

People have always said to me that you ran one of the most
corrupt government in Nigeria’s history and I agree with them.

But they have forgotten that it is credit that despite being
surrounded by such corruption which you did not create either did
you help create, you still remained incorruptible amidst Jackals
and Hyenas.

But during that time you took giant strides that could not be
matched today. Which government in Nigeria hasn’t been accused of
corruption anyway?

Your only sin was that you were not ruthless with those who were
corrupt! but what was the end of those who were ruthless with
them?

It takes wisdom in leadership not ruthlessness, hence your
Initiative of ethical revolution which also gave birth to War
against Indiscipline.

People have no knowledge that it was your idea and you never
claimed it throughout your lifetime.

What have you ever claimed anyway? Not even Abuja that you have
started from the scratch, of which you never had even a single plot
of land until when the Obasanjo government deemed it fit to raise a
simple house for you in Maitama.

Well, I have vouched to claim and defend your legacies, your
friends will support me and your enemies will hunt me.

Sincerely, Dantayi.

Happy 94th!

Mr Bala-Shagari is the President of the National Youth Council
of Nigeria, NYCN.