PDP Chides ACN, CPC over Comments on Elections

Bamanga Tukur

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed surprise at the knee-jerk reactions of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) over its appeal for losers of elections to accept results in good faith.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, the PDP bemoaned the reaction of both parties to an innocent advice intended to further stabilise nation’s democracy.

According to him “The PDP is alarmed at the hot air being blown by  the ACN and CPC over a simple advice for losers of elections to demonstrate sportsmanship. In giving this advice, we expected a sober reflection from those who have attempted to drag our democracy back through needless and endless litigations. They must be made to realise that there must be winners and losers in every contest.”

The PDP spokesman denounced the notion that elections in Nigeria could only be classified as free and fair when opposition parties win, saying, “This idea is not only self-serving and negative but also an attempt to discredit the rights of Nigerians to free choice. If we are in politics to serve the people, we must learn to honour their choice whether it favours us or not.”

Metuh, who admitted that the nation’s electoral process could be improved upon, however, pointed out that elections in Nigeria have gone progressively better under President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The global community has given the electoral process in Nigeria pass marks since 2011. Only the convoluted minds in opposition parties still question the credibility of the elections,” he said.

On the frequently vaunted tone of PDP operating a do-or-die system, the National Publicity Secretary reminded Nigerians that the party has suffered losses in elections held in Nigeria without any fuss.

He said: “We lost the governorship elections in Anambra, Edo and Ondo States. We never device means to influence the results in these states. How can we be given the ‘do-or-die’ label when we allowed the process to go on unhindered? Besides, we were the first to congratulate the Labour Party winners of the Ondo State elections.”

However, the PDP called on Nigerians to disregard the antic of those, it described as who were desperate to stunt the growth of democracy in Nigeria, saying: “Those who have refused to accept a decent political culture are gradually being left behind.”