The Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) has reacted to the Oct. 12 Delta Central Senatorial District bye-election won by the PDP, alleging that it was rigged.
In a statement issued by the DPP Chairman in Delta, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, the party alleged that the election was a sham and disassociated itself with the election.
It also alleged that “the scale of impunity and violence by PDP thugs, cultists and security agents is just unimaginable.
“There was no election and we know the conflagration that could follow if we do not stop our people early enough from going to collation centres to witness the results collation.’’
The party, however, urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful.
In his reaction, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Delta, Mr Macaulay Deighan, said the party’s victory was well-deserved and the alleged rigging was false.
Deighan said that the electorate voted for the party’s candidate, Emmanuel Aguariavwode, because they believed in him, adding that the party worked hard to secure the victory.
He described the election as peaceful, saying security agencies were on ground to maintain peace and order.
He added that “it is not a surprise that we won the election because we campaigned seriously to regain the seat.
“The allegation about rigging is baseless because it was a one-man-one-vote affair, which everybody witnessed. PDP is the majority party in the state.’’
On his part, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairman in Delta, Mr Ogueshi Eboka, said PDP won the election and the exercise was peaceful.
“We participated and we tried our best but could not win. Definitely, I knew that PDP would win,” he said.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that the bye-election was marred by electoral malpractice “and widespread violence perpetrated by security agents and thugs.’’
The party made the allegation in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The APC alleged that there was no voting at all in most of the eight local government areas and the 85 wards in the district.
It also alleged that “the PDP used armed security agents to chase away voters in opposition strongholds.’’
