Edo LG polls: PDP accuses ACN of rigging

The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday criticised the Action Congress of Nigeria over what it described as shoddy preparations and irregularities which marked the local government election in Edo State.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, said  the outcome of the exercise showed clearly that the opposition lacked the capacity to conduct credible, free and fair polls.

Metuh said the fact that the exercise was flawed in spite of the repeated assurances of the ruling party in Edo State showed how “undemocratic and deceitful they could be”.


The spokesman, whose comments were contained in an electronic mail on Sunday, said the outcome of the Edo LG poll did not come to the PDP as a surprise as the council polls in other ACN states such as Lagos and Ogun were not different.

He said the opposition in the country would not be able to sustain the conduct of credible polls achieved by the PDP.

The PDP Publicity Secretary said electoral fraud was the worst form of corruption  as it deprive the people the opportunity to  elect their leaders.

He said the PDP, under President Goodluck Jonathan, had been able to prove to Nigerians and the international community, the possibility of a fair poll by conducting the 2011 elections which was adjudged to be free and fair by all.

Metuh, who urged the opposition to emulate the PDP in electoral conduct, added that other elections conducted after 2011 in Ondo and Edo states rated higher.

He said the emerging All Progressives Congress was not expected to be different as its components had been reputed for lack of internal democracy and tyranny, and shouldn’t be expected to conduct free and fair polls.

He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party is not surprised anyway. The opposition, whether in the  ACN or in the new metamorphosis of APC, like the leopard, cannot change its spots.

“We have seen this aberrations in the conduct of Lagos local government elections and we have also seen it in the electoral heist that took place in Ogun State in the name of local elections. We are seeing it again in Edo, all under the opposition.

“Yet, this is the same opposition that wants Nigerians to entrust it with power so that they will reverse all the gains in credible elections recorded by the PDP.”