From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) In Benue State has rejected the result of the last Saturday, March 18 2023 Governorship elections held in Benue state.
Addressing newsmen on the outcome of the election in the state, at the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi, on Thursday, the acting Chairman, Mr Isaac Mffo, said the conduct of the election fell far below accepted standards.
He therefore stated that the PDP have decided to challenge the outcome of the election at the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi.
Mffo said “From the reports received and studied by the legal department of our party, we have arrived at the conclusion that the conduct of the elections fell far below the accepted minimum standards as obtained under our current democratic dispensation.
“It is, therefore, the decision of the Benue State Chapter of PDP that the outcome of the March 18th, 2023 elections be challenged at the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi.”
“As a party, we had done our homework diligently in the build-up to the elections having campaigned thoroughly in all parts of the state in the course of which we touched base with the electorate.
He said the PDP ran a campaign based on their track record of solid developmental performance since 1999 and most recently on the sterling achievements of the Ortom administration which are visible across all facets of the state.
“We were ready for the elections and did mobilize to participate in them with faith and trust in the promises made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free and fair elections.
“Sadly, this was not the case at the Governorship and State Assembly polls which were held on 18th March, 2023.
“It is our belief that we owe democracy in our country Nigeria a duty to help deepen it by taking such an action to reverse the hijacking of the popular mandate of the people as done by APC during the last elections.”
They expressed hope that the mandate of the Benue electorate will be restored to the PDP as was rightfully given by the people on March 18th, 2023.