Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will mobilise against rigging of elections come 2023 saying but anyone who insists on that should say his last prayers.
Governor Ortom stated this on Wednesday at the Makurdi Airport while fielding questions from journalists on his return from Abuja where he attended an expanded stakeholders meeting as well of that of PDP Governors Forum.
The Governor who was reacting to claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue that it had registered five million members, said the claim was a 419 move by the party and a rehearsal for rigging in future elections.
He, however, said “For us here in the State, we will be fully mobilized, anyone that comes to rig election in 2023, should say his last prayer. You cannot rig where we are in the majority. It is impossible.”
“This is how they want to start rigging. We are not going to give them an inch. APC cannot conduct common ward congresses. Did you hear any rancour when we conducted our congresses? Their five million membership is fraud. We are equal to the task,” Ortom said.
He insisted that the claim was against the overwhelming majority of members of the PDP in Benue which won the governorship, three senatorial seats, seven House of Representatives seats, among others in the 2019 general election.
Governor Ortom described the moves to amend the Electoral Act by the National Assembly as another fiasco aimed at denying Nigerians the right to have their votes count, insisting that a push for manual transmission of results was against the tenets of credible and transparent elections.
According to him, the e-registration of PDP members will go a long way to entrench real and true democratic process which will culminate into election in 2023.
He expressed joy that the PDP has resolved, amicably, its internal wranglings and is poised for victories in future elections.
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He said that the party had resolved to remain focused in the face of intimidation and blackmail from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stressing that the PDP is prepared to take Nigeria from bottom to top and not top to bottom as APC promised Nigerians in 2015.
According to the Governor, PDP has learnt its lessons and is willing to serve as a beacon of hope for the country’s democracy and as a party that is people oriented with the capacity to provide a better alternative.
He said the 13 Governors elected on the party’s platform remain united in promoting its interest above other considerations.
The Governor noted that APC has failed Nigerians on all fronts including economy, security and its mantra of anti-corruption fight, stressing that Nigerians have been abandoned to their fate by the ruling party.
He stated that the meeting with other stakeholders of the PDP decided that the National Executive Committee of the party should call for an early convention slated for October 2021, saying all stakeholders endorsed the decision.
