The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expresses shock over the judgment of the Supreme Court on the 2019 Kogi state governorship election.
In a statement signed by the
National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, the party says though it accepts the verdict of the Supreme Court, as the apex court in the land, the judgment fell short of the expectation of the majority of the people of Kogi state and Nigerians in general, who collectively looked up to the court to remedy the manifest injustices, manipulations, violence and killings that marred the election.
According to the statement, the judgment had not inspired hope in the national quest to ensure that elections are violent-free as well as deter unpatriotic individuals who resort to violence and killing to gain access to power, as heavily witnessed in the Kogi election.
However, as a law-abiding party, PDP called on the people of Kogi state and Nigerians at large, to remain calm, yet undeterred in their quest for the entrenchment of credible electoral process in the country. The statement added.
“Our party deeply mourns all those who were gruesomely murdered as well as commiserates with all victims of the violence that was unleashed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2019 Kogi governorship election”.
The PDP also commends the resilience of the people of Kogi state in pursuing the recovery of their mandate to the very end. Such commitment is a demonstration of the undying determination of the people to defend their choice of leadership to the end.
“Our party will continue to stand with the people of Kogi state as they weather the insensitive and anti-people government in Kogi state”.
The statement further charged the people not to allow the judgment make them lose hope in nation but rather remain united in their commitment, as good citizens, toward entrenching democratic values in the country despite the odds.
Recalled that the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed two appeals against the re-election of Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and affirmed him the governor of Kogi State.
The appeals were filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Musa Wada, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Natasha Akpoti.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr. Bello as the winner of the governorship election held in November 2019.
But in a unanimous judgement yesterday, a seven-member panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, held that both appeals lack merit and subsequently dismissed them.
This also came after tribunal affirmed Mr. Bello’s election On May 23, in a judgement of two-to-one.
With yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling therefore, Mr. Bello is now declared elected governor of the state.
