The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate for the just concluded Ogoja-Yala Federal Constituency by-election has insisted that he is the winner of the electoral poll NEGROIDHAVEN has learnt.
This disclosure was made via a press release dated 28th February, signed in Usibe’s name and sited by our correspondent.
In the said press release, Usibe accused the state governor of Cross River, Prof Ben Ayade, of resorting to violence to compromise the poll in the favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Jude Ngaji.
While appreciating constituents of Ogoja-Yala Federal Constituency, he informed that he will be going to court to seek redress.
His speech reads in part by, ‘‘Arising from the Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency by-election, which took place on Saturday, 26th February,2022, there are fundamental issues that can not be glossed over, in the interest of the electoral process, the good people of the ogoja/yala Federal Constituency and posterity.
“First, the people came out and voted massively for their party of choice, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and outrightly rejected Gov Ayade and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP clearly won the election.
“Second, the Governor, realising that the APC had lost, ordered a mixed group of security forces and cultists led by his Aide de Campv(ADC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) to unleash on the electoral process, unprecedented violence. This vicious group of marauders, ultimately held INEC officials hostage, forcing them to post false results in favour of the APC.
“In the light of the foregoing, I hereby state clearly that I am the authentic winner of the by-election and should have been so declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This old-fashioned electoral fraud will be appropriately redressed within the confines of the law.’
In another vein, the leadership of the opposition PDP in Cross River has observed that the party will proceed to court to seek judicial redress.
In a statement, PDP chairman, Vena Ikem, said since 1999 the state has never witnessed an election like this in the northern Senatorial district, an indication that PDP is a party to beat.
Ikem said it is pathetic to watch state actors deploy so much force against PDP and voters who had voted in the past for the same APC people who were hitherto in PDP.
Ikem said : “The PDP in the state, under my watch, will never indulge in planning of elections that include nefarious activities, recruitment of cultists and using brigandage by state actors to achieve what in the end will be a pyrrhic Victory!
“Those who do will have their recompense. We won the legitimate vote and we will fight to correct the records, no matter how long it takes. We will fight the fight on principle.
“I bring my Christian Faith into politics. We will fight the just cause. Be rest assured that we will leave no stone unturned in search of the victory we won in the field by your legislative votes.
“Our party members should hold their heads high for you fought a good fight and you won the votes and the hearts and minds of your people,” he said.
