The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has condemned what it described as the over-militarisation of last Saturday’s by-elections, alleging that widespread irregularities, vote buying, and violence marred the exercise.
Naija News reports that the forum made its position known in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Saturday.
The PDP governors accused the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government of deploying intimidation and inducement to manipulate the outcome of the polls.
According to the communiqué, the ruling party allegedly used excessive security deployment to tilt the process in its favour.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammad, expressed appreciation to PDP members and supporters for their loyalty during the polls.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant in protecting their votes in future elections, stressing that the opposition would continue to resist “anti-democratic actions” by the APC.
The communiqué reads, “Such distractions cannot diminish the party’s strong grassroots appeal or the growing public yearning for the return of affordable living and relative security experienced under PDP-led administrations.
“We urge members and supporters of our great party, as well as the entire citizenry, to hold fast to the vision and principles of the PDP, in spite of the growing intimidation of the opposition by the government in power.
“This sad situation should only be seen as the sign of the desperation of a political party with no agenda, no vision and doomed to face inevitable rejection by the masses.”
At the party’s national convention, the forum reaffirmed its commitment to the resolutions for it to be held on November 15.
It said, “We urge members to resist all attempts by anti-party forces to derail the November 15 National Convention. The PDP remains the only democratic institution and viable alternative for restoring Nigeria along the path of good governance and national development.
“The forum reaffirms its commitment to rescuing our dear country, Nigeria and Nigerians from the divisive governance style of the APC, whose policies have continued to cause more hardship and misery on the people.
“The forum particularly commends initiatives by the government of Zamfara State in significantly curbing insecurity within the state, but condemns the continued monstrous killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Benue states and other parts of the country, and calls on the federal government to be more responsive to the lives and properties of the citizenry.”
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