Why PDP May Not Participate In 2019 Elections – Secondus

The national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus has stated clearly that his party has lost confidence in the conduct of elections by the Independent National Electodal Commission and may therefore not contest 2019 general elections if certain issues are not addressed.

He said this in Abuja on Thursday when he granted audience to joint delegation of International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute at the party’s national headquarters in reaction to the Ekiti state governorship election held last Saturday, where the party lost to the All Progressive’s Congress.

Secondus alleged that the INEC connived with the victorious party to rig the election result in favor of APC.

He said, “Our opinion is that INEC and security agents are directly involved in this manipulation.

“As a matter of fact, we did not contest against the APC; we contested against the security agencies and INEC.

“Nigerians and the international community are aware of this fact because of what happened in the state.”

‎He disclosed that the party was consulting to take a decision, whether to participate in the 2019 general elections or not, saying: “because you are participating against security agencies and INEC who have colluded to alter the figures even after you have been voted. So, we are in a dilemma.”

According to him, if noting is done to restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians and other political parties, it might be difficult to accept the result of 2019 general election, no matter what the outcome might be, noting that such may be a recipe for crisis.

“Ekiti election is strategic to the general election in 2019 and from what happened we are consulting with our people to see whether we would participate in the election or
not.”

“For us as an opposition party we have lost confidence on INEC and security agencies,” he added.

‎He alleged that Ekiti State was militarised before and during the election, adding that PDP leaders were harassed and arrested and detained in the state.

He said, “Our members were harassed, arrested and detained overnight. All of these things were happening in the suburbs.

“In the city, it was like a roadshow and it was like nothing was happening; but it was at the local government that they carried out their activities and most people were scared and didn’t come out to vote.”

“The second thing was that they came out with federal might, with money, with everything to entice the voters.

“Even at that, we won the election but it was manipulated.”