….. Commission to resume registration of voters
BY MYKE UZENDU
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have claimed that the just concluded Edo State governorship election was won by the party but the result was manipulated in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a communiqué signed by the Forums chairman and governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, the governors said that they are working hard to reposition the party to become a cynosure for all Nigerians and an acceptable platform for good governance.
Laying claims to victory at the just concluded Edo state governorship elections, the PDP governors said,
“The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo Elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”
The forum said that the postponement of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to the first week of February 2025 was to give room for more reconciliation, peace, and unity within the party.
“The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders, and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party” the communique stated.
The governors empathized with Nigerians over the present economic hardship. They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review some of its harsh policies so as to reduce the high cost of living,
“The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government. The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development”.
The Forum recognized the good work that the minority members of National Assembly are doing. They urged them to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally.
The Forum commiserated with the Government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. The Forum also commiserated with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker expulsion whereby scores of people lost their lives and several others were injured.
Present at the meeting were Sen. Bala A Mohammed (Bauchi State) – Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State) host; Agbu Kefas (Taraba State), Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State).
Others are Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State), Sir Monday Onyeme (Deputy Governor, Delta State) and Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai (Deputy Governor, Enugu State)
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it will commence nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the first quarter of 2025.