The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, won the November 2019 Kogi state governorship election, adding that it will never relent until it reclaims the mandate at the Appeal Court. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Sunday, PDP described the judgment of the Election Tribunal as an alarming miscarriage of justice, particularly as the PDP and its candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, laid incontrovertible proofs of electoral manipulations by Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress (APC), as affirmed by Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele in his landmark dissenting judgment. “Our party was able to lay incontestable evidence of over-voting, massive thumb printing, voter intimidation, thuggery, violence and other malpractices used by the APC and compromised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to rob our candidate and the people of Kogi state of their mandate. “In fact, the lull and despondency that have enveloped Kogi state since the tribunal’s flawed verdict is an indication that the judgment failed to uphold justice in the genuine aspiration of the people of Kogi state in the election. “The fact remains that the evidences are clear that our candidate is the genuine choice of the people and our party is confident that the Court of Appeal will uphold justice in this matter. “The people of Kogi state now look up to the Appeal Court to reverse this injustice endorsed by the tribunal, given the evidence laid, as affirmed by the courageous verdict of Justice Ohimai.
“Our party is confident that the Appeal Court will address the substance of the case, which the tribunal overlooked in rendering its defective judgment. “The people of Kogi state deserve a government elected by them and not one imposed by enemies of democracy and compromised officials at INEC,” the statement read.
The party expressed shock that despite the overwhelming evidence before the tribunal, proving that Governor Yahaya Bello did not win the election, justice was thwarted to the disappointment of the people of Kogi state and generality of Nigerians. The statement commended Justice Ohimai for her fearlessness in upholding the truth and showing that there is hope in the institution of the judiciary, which PDP said will be further established by the Appeal Court in this matter. The PDP urged the people not to despair over the judgment of the tribunal as justice will definitely be served at the Appeal Court.