The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold his victory in the 2023 governorship election.
The Supreme Court’s five-member panel unanimously rejected All Progressives Congress candidate Timipre Sylva’s appeal contesting the election results.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement on Friday describing the Supreme Court verdict in favour of Diri as an important victory for democracy.
The statement read in part, “The verdict of the Supreme Court is another victory for democracy, rule of law, and the expressed will of the people of Bayelsa State in their quest for good governance and development on the platform of the PDP.
“Governor Diri’s re-election by the overwhelming majority of the people of Bayelsa State is a resounding testament in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding achievements in the delivery of life-changing citizen empowerment programs and projects in the state.”
The PDP argued that the validation of governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states reveals a significant issue caused by INEC’s defective processes and contempt for the rules of the 2022 Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines.
It stated, “The PDP, however, raises serious concerns about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states despite confirmed reports and evidence that the elections were heavily flawed and blatantly compromised, marred by widespread violence and manipulations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with certain unscrupulous officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The general melancholic disposition in Imo and Kogi States at the news of the judgement validates the concerns and views of our party and the majority of Nigerians that the results of the elections declared in the two states did not reflect the true aspiration of the people as expressed in their votes.
“The upholding of the governorship election in Imo and Kogi States further underscores a very serious challenge created by the blemished operation and violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Electoral Guidelines by INEC.
“The judgement also underlines the clamour and demand by our party and Nigerians for a comprehensive review of the electoral law, particularly concerning the declaration of results of the election without due regard to issues and complaints arising from obvious violations of the provisions of the law and electoral processes.”
The PDP stressed the importance of strengthening electoral rules and processes to guarantee that elections are determined by votes rather than violence and manipulation, as witnessed in the Imo and Kogi governorship elections.
It continued, “Such a situation places a lot of pressure on the judiciary, which would have been avoided if the Electoral Commission had ensured strict adherence to the Electoral Act and Guidelines in the conduct of elections in our country.
“Our party restates its position that no candidate should be declared a winner of any election until all legal processes are concluded. This is to prevent the inclination to resort to self-help through the use of violence and manipulation to secure unearned victory, as witnessed in the Imo and Kogi states governorship elections.
“The PDP, as a law-abiding party, respects the decision of the Supreme Court despite our party’s deep reservations and urges Nigerians to remain calm but determined in the collective quest to ensure the entrenchment of credible elections in our country.”
