By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Following the on-going nationwide outrage over reports of alleged massive rigging of last Saturday's Presidential election results, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto state has rejected the results of the poll as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Professor Kabiru Bala.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at the Sokoto State Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Hon Muhammad Aliyu Goronyo, the State chairman of PDP said the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in connivance with the security agency deliberately disenfranchised majority of their supporters from exercising their civic responsibilities.
Goronyo said, "Violence, maiming and killings have been introduced into our politics by some misguided elements thereby scaring away peace loving and innocent people from the electoral process. It is now sad, our dear seat of the caliphate is now famed for this kind of lawlessness"', the state PDP chairman lamented.
While disclosing that they align themselves with the position of their national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and other political parties in urging INEC to do the right thing, the state party chairman, honourable Aliyu Goronyo further added that no amount of intimidation will deny their victory anytime election is conducted in the state.
"As you are aware, at the national level, you have seen that since yesterday (Monday, February 27, 2023), the PDP, LP, ADC had raised fundamental observations and we stood by the position of our national chairman as far as the 2023 general elections is concerned. Therefore, we are rejecting the outcome of the presidential election in Sokoto as announced by INEC".
According to him, the calculated disruption orchestrated by the opposition led to the cancellation of elections in 473 polling units which has no fewer than 310,000 registered voters all disenfranchised.
Stating that the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led administration is committed to ensuring sustained peace, Hon. Goronyo tasked security agencies to live up to their expectations by ensuring that they arrest and prosecute those armed sponsored thugs behind the cancellation.
While decrying that the security arrangement for the election has failed woefully, Goronyo urged people of the state not to be afraid, adding that "adequate measures is been put in place to ensure their security".
The State PDP chairman in his assurance, further said they do not have fears as regards any re-run election, hence they are going to win all the 11 House of Reps and 3 Senatorial seats in Sokoto state anytime it is held. NNL.
