The Peoples Democratic Party has said that it will challenge the outcome of the March 28 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission through its Chairman and Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday declared Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.
The PDP through its agent at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Wednesday when the final result was declared, had refused to sign the result sheet despite its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, having earlier conceded defeat.
The agent of the PDP, Bello Fadile, who was in attendance when parties were being called upon to sign the result sheet, told journalists shortly after the result was declared that the party was not satisfied with the outcome of the election and had decided to challenge it at the election tribunal.
“Whether I sign it (the result sheet) or I don’t sign it, does not make any difference. It doesn’t invalidate the resultý. When we go to court, then we can challenge the result,” Fadile said.
When asked to confirm if the PDP will challenge the result at the presidential election petition tribunal, Fadile added, “Sure! The party petitioned. Don’t forget. So the party will follow through the petition. There are rules for this. The law is there.
“The result was declared on the 1st of April, I think. We will follow the due process. Like the president (Jonathan) said, ‘if you have any grievances, follow due process and the due process in this instance is to go to the tribunal.”
Meanwhile, state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday promised to return to their states and work hard to ensure that the party maintains its lead across the country during the April 11 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting the governors had with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Akpabio said they visited the President to show solidarity with him and promise him that they would remain undaunted by the fate that befell the party during the last presidential election.
He said the governors also commended Jonathan for his statesmanship after the result of the election was released.
He said, “We, as governors, came to assure him (the President) that we are going back as field commanders to hold our states and that come April 11, the PDP will still maintain its lead across Nigeria.
“Everybody knows that the only party that is national in nature and is on ground is the PDP. So we are not going to be undaunted by what has happened.
“The party has already indicated that it will explore all legal means in order to ensure redress. So, we are also proud of the party and we want to congratulate all our voters and all PDP faithful across Nigeria for their peaceful disposition.
“This is the only party that has not carried stick to break somebody’s windscreen after election. Because of the sacrificial stand of the President, our faithfuls are not on the streets, breaking APC windscreens and vehicles.
“If it were to be the other way round, you know what would have happened today. This is where Nigerians must judge: we want peace, stability and unity.”
Akpabio said the governors were impressed because Jonathan did what no African leader had ever done.
He said it was commendable that despite the flawed nature of the election, the President said he remained committed to ensuring peace and stability of the country.
Other governors who attended the meeting are Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Lyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); and Idris Wada (Kogi).
The Independent National Electoral Commission through its Chairman and Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday declared Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.
The PDP through its agent at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Wednesday when the final result was declared, had refused to sign the result sheet despite its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, having earlier conceded defeat.
The agent of the PDP, Bello Fadile, who was in attendance when parties were being called upon to sign the result sheet, told journalists shortly after the result was declared that the party was not satisfied with the outcome of the election and had decided to challenge it at the election tribunal.
“Whether I sign it (the result sheet) or I don’t sign it, does not make any difference. It doesn’t invalidate the resultý. When we go to court, then we can challenge the result,” Fadile said.
When asked to confirm if the PDP will challenge the result at the presidential election petition tribunal, Fadile added, “Sure! The party petitioned. Don’t forget. So the party will follow through the petition. There are rules for this. The law is there.
“The result was declared on the 1st of April, I think. We will follow the due process. Like the president (Jonathan) said, ‘if you have any grievances, follow due process and the due process in this instance is to go to the tribunal.”
Meanwhile, state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday promised to return to their states and work hard to ensure that the party maintains its lead across the country during the April 11 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting the governors had with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Akpabio said they visited the President to show solidarity with him and promise him that they would remain undaunted by the fate that befell the party during the last presidential election.
He said the governors also commended Jonathan for his statesmanship after the result of the election was released.
He said, “We, as governors, came to assure him (the President) that we are going back as field commanders to hold our states and that come April 11, the PDP will still maintain its lead across Nigeria.
“Everybody knows that the only party that is national in nature and is on ground is the PDP. So we are not going to be undaunted by what has happened.
“The party has already indicated that it will explore all legal means in order to ensure redress. So, we are also proud of the party and we want to congratulate all our voters and all PDP faithful across Nigeria for their peaceful disposition.
“This is the only party that has not carried stick to break somebody’s windscreen after election. Because of the sacrificial stand of the President, our faithfuls are not on the streets, breaking APC windscreens and vehicles.
“If it were to be the other way round, you know what would have happened today. This is where Nigerians must judge: we want peace, stability and unity.”
Akpabio said the governors were impressed because Jonathan did what no African leader had ever done.
He said it was commendable that despite the flawed nature of the election, the President said he remained committed to ensuring peace and stability of the country.
Other governors who attended the meeting are Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Lyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); and Idris Wada (Kogi).
