The Rejection Of The Result By Party Ahead Of Declaration By INEC Is Pre- Emptive-Modu Sheriff

Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff

Disputed National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said he did not support Thursday’s rejection of the yet-to-be-declared result of Wednesday’s governorship election in Edo.

He said that the rejection of the result ahead of its declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was pre-emptive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP in Edo, at a news conference in Benin, announced its rejection of the result of the governorship poll.

Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, who addressed the media, alleged that the outcome of the exercise had been pre-determined by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, at the time of the news conference, collation of results of the election was ongoing at INEC secretariat in Benin.

He said the national leadership was concerned about issues arising from the election, and called for restraint from members and supporters.Speaking on behalf of Sheriff, Deputy National Chairman of his faction of the party, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, said, “we will await the final announcement of the result, consult widely before making our decision public”.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, had in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday warned that the party would reject the result of the government poll if the antics of APC continued.

He accused the Edo Government of sponsoring massive irregularities in the election.

The opposition party had earlier warned INEC that it would not accept any result different from what was announced at the various polling units in the state.