The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against any attempt to rig the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.

PDP, in a statement released on Thursday through the party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, warned that it would not allow any manipulation of the electoral process, adding that the people of the three states were ready to defend their votes.

“Our Party restates that it will never allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to manipulate the electoral process in the governorship election in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States. In fact, our party states in clear terms that anybody who attempts to rig or manipulate the election in any way may have to deal with the legitimate wrath of the people,” PDP said.

PDP also warned Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and Usman Ododo, whom he refers to as Bello’s puppet candidate, to accept their rejection by the people and be ready to concede defeat on Saturday.

All indices from several entrance polls, according to PDP, show that the party candidates are leading and will sweep the governorship election in the three states, noting that any electoral trajectory that does not reflect the clear tide of the will of the people at the polling units will be firmly resisted.

PDP also accused Governor Uzodimma of wrecking the economy of Imo State and turning it into a theatre of violence, killings, and kidnapping, and challenged the governor to disclose the names of the Imo State citizens who allegedly contributed to his campaign. This, the party argued, would allow the public to identify the supporters of the insecurity and hardship represented by his administration.

The party, however, called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Agu, accusing her of favouring the APC in previous elections.

The party said that the people of Imo State have spoken clearly in demanding that Prof. Agu must not participate in any capacity whatsoever in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

“We are in a democracy and INEC must respect the wishes and aspirations of the people and stakeholders in the electoral process,” he added.
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