Bayelsa, Kogi Elections: PDP Rigging Strategy was Thwarted, Says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the rigging
strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was thwarted during
last Saturday’s governorship election in both Bayelsa and Kogi
States.

The ruling party also hailed the security agencies for the
security arrangements put in place for the elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre
Issa-Onilu, in a statement Sunday said that the party was aware of
several hoodlums brought into Kogi State from Osun and Oyo States a
few days before the elections, as the APC monitored the grand
preparation to unleash violence on Bayelsa State.

According to him, “We are delighted that the forces of darkness
have failed. The subterfuge deployed by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to rig the election in both states, including the Kogi
West senatorial rerun election was thwarted.

“In Kogi and Bayelsa States, we were certain of securing the
majority votes for the two governorship seats and the Kogi West
senatorial seat. For this, we knew we must ensure a peaceful
atmosphere for voters to freely turn out and exercise their
franchise.”

The ruling party noted that as expected, it was in the tradition
of the PDP to thrive under orderly and credible electoral process,
adding that the main oppossion party did its best to discredit the
process.

The APC said it was glad that the voting processes came to a
successful end in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Issa-Onilu added that the ruling party noted the effort by the
PDP to employ its usual manipulation through ballot box snatching,
massive thumb printing of ballot papers and vote buying.

The party stressed that it also noted for instance, the video
now in circulation of self-help ballot paper thumb printing at the
polling unit of the PDP governorship candidate, Musa Wada, and vote
buying by the PDP’s senatorial candidate, Dino Melaye.

The ruling party however commended the security agencies and
other officials who did their best to minimise the impact of the
PDP thugs whose sole agenda was to create chaos and scare voters
from coming out to vote.

The party said it was pleasing that the PDP did not achieve its
objective of winning through violence.

It therefore commended all its supporters for standing their
ground to protect the ballot and ensure credibility of the
electoral process.

APC said while it awaits the collation process to be completed
and for the final results to be announced, urged its members in
both states to remain calm and peaceful.