The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Akoko bye-election which held at the weekend in Ondo State as a shameless rape on democracy by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a statement by its spokesman in Ondo State, Hon Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the PDP said its lawyers are studying the results announced by the electoral body to decide its next line of action.
Following is the full statement entitled “Akoko Bye-election: Weep not for PDP, weep for our democracy”:
“The bye-election for the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency was held over the weekend without any loss of life and significant violence apart from a few places like Oyin-Akoko where PDP voters were intimidated to vote APC.
“Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter’s legal team and experts are still studying the election results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decide on our next line of action.
“In the weeks preceding the election, our party combed all the nooks and crannies, campaigning door to door for the PDP candidate, Hon. Olalekan Bada, the responses we received everywhere we went were not only re-assuring but also overwhelming.
“This was not unconnected with the age-long understanding and perfect rotational agreement between Akoko North East and Akoko North West. An arrangement that favoured Akoko North East where our candidate hails from.
“However, two days to the election, the APC which relied on the government and the people’s fund in their custody stormed the homes of party leaders and other individuals with the sole aim of changing their minds.
“Our party wishes to salute all those who despite financial inducement and promise of political patronage, stood their ground and voted according to their conscience. Those who did otherwise have only posterity to contend with.
“In the last seven years, the APC has brought hunger and lack into homes. Poverty walks on all four legs in the state. Such a party can only use hunger as a weapon to garner votes which is what happened in this case.
It is not the case that, the PDP did not offer options but the people made their choices. Therefore, nobody should weep for the PDP, let us reserve our tears for our democracy which is gradually reducing the space for honest labour and elections based on performance instead of stomach infrastructure.
