1
Francis Onoiribholo
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has rejected Saturday by elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the vacancies in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency, describing them as shams and embarrassment to democracy.
In the elections, the APC candidates, Joe Ikpea for the Edo Central Senatorial District and Omosede Igbinedion for the Ovia Federal Constituency were declared winners of the elections by INEC.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee in response to Journalists questions on the by-elections said, “The BVAS is the single most important tool that guarantees the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
“What we witnessed on Saturday was not a technical failure but a deliberate sabotage by INEC to provide room for manipulation in cohort with APC and creates an unfair advantage for the APC and renders the entire process compromised.
“We reject the purported results being circulated by INEC. This election is nothing but an embarrassment to democracy. INEC hides under so-called “glitches” and “malfunctions,” but the real issue is its lack of competence, neutrality, and moral standing.
“In any responsible society, the management of INEC would by now have been sacked and prosecuted for repeatedly compromising the electoral process.
“Nigerians deserve elections that are free, fair, and credible — not exercises where the outcome is predetermined. Until our elections are adequately prepared for and conducted transparently, democracy in Nigeria will remain under siege.” Nehikhare declared.