PDP Rejects Kogi State Assembly Results

The Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State has rejected the results of the April 11 House of Assembly elections in the state, alleging mass irregularities by the major opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress.

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday declared the results of elections in 19 state constituencies.

INEC, however, declared elections in the remaining six as inconclusive.

The PDP won 12 of the seats while the APC won seven.



But with the opposition laying claim to the other five seats, the PDP said it was the rightful winner of the elections.

State chairman of the PDP, Hassan Salau, said at a press conference on Tuesday that INEC should hold new elections in some of the wards where the APC won, citing massive irregularities as the reason for the call.

“The result of the just concluded House of Assembly election in the state where our party clinched majority of the seats, shows that we are rapidly recovering from the defeat we suffered during the presidential/ National Assembly polls,” Salau said.

He added, “When collation began with early results showing the PDP in the lead, the APC alleged that fake ballot papers were used in parts of the East senatorial district and that PDP supporters snatched ballot boxes in some polling units.

“Reports reaching us indicate that INEC may have succumbed to the lies and caprices of the APC at the detriment of truth and in complete disadvantage of the PDP.

“We arrived at this conclusion based on the results so far declared by INEC and the decision by the electoral body to declare as inconclusive elections in six state constituencies. The results in dispute are those of Ofu LG, Ajaokuta LG, Koton-Karfe LG, Dekina II state constituency, Olamaboro LG and Lokoja constituency.”

He further alleged that the APC used thugs to disrupt the process, adding that the card readers were not used in some polling units.

He said, “Contrary to the plot by the APC to present itself as the underdog in the electoral debacle, our investigations reveal that the APC is the aggressor. Cohorts of the party had relied on violence to massively undermine the electoral process in the three senatorial districts.”