PDP Calls for Cancellation of Imo State Guber Election

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday called for the cancellation of the Imo state governorship election, citing massive electoral irregularities. Addressing news men, the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said that it has become imperative to cancel the governorship election in Imo state because of the massive incidence of irregularities that marred the elections in the state.

He said that the PDP is demanding for the immediate cancellation and conduct a fresh poll that would reflect the will of the people.

Metuh said that Nigeria's 16 years of democracy must be sustained and the ominous signs the opposition party is advancing was not in the interest of the hard earned democracy.

According to the PDP spokesman "We demand the immediate halt to the announcement in Imo, cancellation of the elections and ordering of fresh elections in Imo.

"Our reasons are as follows: In Oru East LG the electoral officers and other officials of INEC have confessed that indeed the APC forced them at gunpoint to re-write the result of the LG.

"In a democracy where they are claiming change, in Ezinifite, fake policemen were arrested and the CP of Imo state is aware of this. The fake policemen have already confessed that they are working for the APC.

"Ideato North and South, there was massive violence, swapping of ballot papers and snatching ballots in Ideato North Oru and other places. There were no elections in Ideato south, but figures were awarded.

"Our question is this: Having sustained democracy in 16 years, are we going to witness erosion of the fundamentals of the principles of democracy in Nigeria under this new government? What we are seeing is ominous times.

"People of Imo have trooped out in the street demanding the correct result. If INEC cannot produce what they have voted for, then INEC should order new elections.

"We in the PDP, we are willing and able to assist in ensuring that INEC in the next one week or two weeks, once they order for fresh elections in Imo state, whatever cost it is, let the citizens bear it as long as genuine and true democracy is enthroned. We want fresh elections in Imo state. Let the will of the people be enthroned."