The Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, following the Supreme Court’s determination, which upheld his victory within the 2023 governorship election.
The Supreme Court’s five-member panel unanimously rejected the enchantment by All Progressives Congress candidate, Timipre Sylva, contesting the end result of the election.
In an announcement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP referred to as the Supreme Court ruling in favour of Governor Diri a major win for democracy.
The assertion learn partly, “The verdict of the Supreme Court is one other victory for Democracy, Rule of Law, and the expressed Will of the folks of Bayelsa State of their quest for good governance and improvement on the platform of the PDP.
“Governor Diri’s re-election by the overwhelming majority of the people of Bayelsa State is a resounding testament in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding achievements in the delivery of life-changing citizen empowerment programmes and projects in the state.”
The PDP said that the validation of the governorship elections in Imo and Kogi States highlights a important situation brought on by INEC’s flawed processes and disrespect for the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines.
It said, “The PDP, nevertheless, raises critical issues in regards to the Supreme Court’s determination to uphold the governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states regardless of confirmed experiences and proof that the elections have been closely flawed and blatantly compromised, marred by widespread violence and manipulations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with sure unscrupulous officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The normal melancholic disposition in Imo and Kogi States on the information of the judgment validates the issues and views of our Party and majority of Nigerians that the outcomes of the elections declared within the two States didn’t replicate the true aspiration of the folks as expressed of their votes.
“The upholding of the governorship election in Imo and Kogi States additional underscores a really critical problem created by the blemished operation and violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Electoral Guidelines by INEC.
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“The judgement also underlines the clamour and demand by our Party and Nigerians for a comprehensive review of the Electoral Law particularly concerning the declaration of results of election without due regard to issues and complaints arising from obvious violation of the provisions of the law and electoral processes.”
The PDP emphasised the necessity to reinforce electoral legal guidelines and processes to make sure elections are determined by votes, not by violence and manipulation, as seen within the Imo and Kogi governorship elections.
It continued, “Such a state of affairs locations a number of strain on the judiciary, which might have been prevented if the Electoral Commission had ensured strict adherence to the Electoral Act and Guidelines within the conduct of elections in our nation.
“Our celebration restates its place that no candidate needs to be declared a winner of any election till all authorized processes are concluded. This is to stop the inclination to resort to self-help via using violence and manipulation to safe unearned victory, as witnessed within the Imo and Kogi states governorship elections.
“The PDP as a law-abiding Party, respects the decision of the Supreme Court despite our Party’s deep reservations and urges Nigerians to remain calm but determined in the collective quest to ensure the entrenchment of credible elections in our country.”