Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against setting a dangerous and evil precedence in the political history of Nigeria by declaring elections inconclusive.
Dogara stated this Wednesday, while addressing the 85th Emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which held at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
Calling on INEC, to go about its job in Saturday’s supplementary elections with a sense of professionalism, the Speaker expressed worry that Nigeria was gradually becoming a ready example for the outside world to cite in matters of poor conduct and behaviour.
He said: “What has happened (the 2019 elections) is pure evil. Our consolation as members of this party is that evil doers will never escaped punishment. If they do what others have done before, they will see what those who did evil saw. Definitely, they cannot escape from it. It is a law of nature and it is in the scripture of God, that whatever you sow, you shall reap.
“I want to use this opportunity to remind INEC that we should escape the trap of always getting Nigeria to be slanted as bad when they are looking for example of a bad precedent.
“Elections are done all over the world. Elections are conducted in Africa and at no time have we heard of these inconclusive elections in other jurisdictions.
“It is very unfortunate if INEC which is led by a first class Professor set this very dangerous and unacceptable precedent in our political history.”
Also speaking, Vice Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi said “As for me, while we blame the INEC and the security agencies, the biggest shame goes to those who are directing them to do the wrong thing. If you choose to be a leader, especially with All Progressives Congress, APC, that claims integrity, the biggest corruption and the biggest show of a government that does not believe in integrity is to rig election. Because the process through which you come into office, is far more fundamental than what you do thereafter.
“I think we should hold them responsible for what is happening in this country now. The examples we are setting for the young ones, I don’t know what they will tell a young man who is cheating in an exam in this country after seeing the ways our elections are conducted. I don’t know what they will tell those who are robbing banks and kidnapping people, because we have seen the biggest of it with this election where people are happy after robbing the nation and their states.”
On his part, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said, “Let me commend members of our party because it is rare that after a presidential election that a party begins to build momentum.
“My appeal to everybody is to say I think this victory that the other party has seen is going to be short lived. We have a great future ahead and I believe we will see that on Saturday. We will make sure that we defend those five states (Benue, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kano and Bauchi) that have been declared inconclusive.”
Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, who spoke on behalf of the Board of Trustees, BoT, urged party members to remain steadfast and committed, adding that victory was only an arm’s length away.
The NEC resolved that the party will do a post mortem of the 2019 general elections as proposed by the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Present at the NEC meeting were former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, ex- Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, Adolphus Wabara and Babangida Aliyu.
Others were erstwhile Imo state governor, Achike Udenwa, Senators Abiodun Olujimi, Grace Bent, former Anambra state governor, Jim Nwobodo, ex-Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada (retd), Chief Tom Ikimi, Eddy Olafeso, Liyel Imoke, John Nwodo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Professor A.B.C.Nwosu and Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.
