Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded governorship election in Edo State has appealed to the people of the state not to take laws into their hands.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki winner of the election with 319,483 votes as against the PDP candidate that scored 253,173 votes.
A statement titled, “my good people of Edo state”, personally signed by the PDP, governorship candidate, Ize-Iyamu and made available to newsmen in Benin-City also urged the people of the state not to engage in violent demonstrations or destruction of public property.
Iyamu who said the party has three options to retrieve the peoples’ mandate, however thanked the electorate for coming out enmasse against all odds to perform their civil responsibility.
He listed the options to explore in pursuing the alleged stolen mandate to include going to elections petition tribunal, call a World Press Conference to let the world know what transpired or leave everything to God.
“I appeal to all of us, Edo people who feel dissatisfied not to take the laws into your hands or engage in violent demonstrations or destruction of public property. We still have many options. We can go to the elections tribunal. We can call a World Press Conference to let the world know what transpired or we can leave everything to God.
“Though we have our doubts about the results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, I appreciate your massive turn out which is unprecedented in the history of governorship elections in our state. You defied all fears and threats and still turned out massively to vote the candidate of your choice.
“No matter how you feel, please conduct yourselves in civilized manner because the will of God must prevail. If God says I Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will be governor, no amount of rigging can stop it. So we must keep hope alive. Let us continue to hope and believe in our country”, he said.
He however thanked God that there was no life lost during the exercise in spite of the alleged plans by certain political party.
“More than the results of the elections, I thank God that no life was lost before and during the elections, despite all plans by certain political parties. This was our prayer to God that no life should be lost in the course of the elections.
“I thank you for the confidence you reposed in me and my running mate, Hon John Yakubu. I believe that democracy remains the best option for us as a people despite all its imperfections. I also believe that we must remain committed to getting it right as a people and a nation”, he added.
The PDP governorship candidate who expressed doubt on the election results declared by INEC opined that the “so-called winner of the elections was credited with less than 320, 000 votes while I who INEC claimed lost was credited with less than 300, 000 votes”.
While contending that was not the true reflection of the election, he however posited that the results exposes the fraud orchestrated by INEC that was nothing short of pre-arranged allocation of votes.
He added “that is why despite the so-called victory, we are all witnesses to the gloom and sadness that has enveloped the state ever since”.
