In a public announcement on Thursday, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, the PDP said:
In the last couple of days, we have been inundated with phone calls and visits from loyal and committed PDP members as well as members of the public seeking clarification regarding the ill-fated Local government council elections being organized by Edo State government scheduled for Saturday, March 3rd, 2018.
We want to reiterate that PDP is not participating in the sham elections. We did not submit any candidate for any of the positions in any of the wards and local government areas in the state.
As a matter of fact, we filed a case in court challenging EDSIEC, EDHA and EDSG on their powers, amongst other breaches, to amend the rules for the conduct of the elections. The case has been adjourned to April 11, 2018 at the last hearing.
From the onset, we outlined our grievances regarding the composition of EDSIEC, the unconstitutional amendment to the number of days notice required to be given to political parties before elections are held and questioned the competence of the EDSIEC as the antecedent of its chairman stuck out like a sore thumb. At this point, we expected EDSIEC and/or EDSG to address these issues raised as they were germane, but instead, they preferred to pay lawyers up to N500m to keep the case in court.
Our case is strong and justifiable.
As a consequence and not wanting to give credibility to a flawed and skewed process, whereby all the winners have been predetermined, election results already written in government house and handed over to the Prof. Orobator led EDSIEC for announcement, we hereby advice all our members, sympathizers as well as the good and hardworking people of Edo State to observe March 3rd, 2018 as a day of rest.
There is absolutely no need to go out to the polling stations as your votes will not count. The election is liable to be declared null and void by the time the case is completed, all those elected, will be dismissed from the offices they were illegally elected into.
Stay home and rest. If you are a farmer go to the farm. Your time is precious, make good use of it.
Signed
Chris Osa Nehikhare
SPS PDP EDO STATE
