The Peoples Democratic Party has said it is battle-ready to confront and prevent vote thieves in the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
The party also said it would ensure a fair and democratic process and prevent anyone, no matter how highly placed, from taking over the state undemocratically.
The Independent National Electoral Commission scheduled the Edo and Ondo governorship elections for September 21 and November 16, respectively.
While Asue Ighodalo is the party’s candidate in Edo, the former deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, will fly its flag in Ondo.
Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of the National Campaign Councils for the elections, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said the party would not permit anyone to seize, steal, and abscond with their victory in Edo and Ondo.
President Bola Tinubu, in a viral video on social media, was seen addressing party chieftains that he would take Edo for the All Progressives Congress.
But in his address on Thursday, Damagum said, “From the way these candidates emerge, it has shown that we are truly democratic. Also, this should give you the faith that what you want to embark on will yield the desired fruits.
“I watched the remarks; especially where the President said he will take Edo for his party, APC. As we have always said, he has tried it before, and we have a slogan that ‘Edo no be Lagos.’
“So I want to use this opportunity to stress that we are in a democratic dispensation and there are rules that must be followed.
“We will not sit down and allow anybody to snatch, grab, and run with our victory. We are battle-ready for any thief that rears head to steal our fortune. We have done so well in Edo State. We thank the Governor, Godwin Obaseki. We are very proud of him. And our records in that state speak volumes,” he said.
Damagum stressed that the PDP would not permit election results to be announced at night, adding that the party had performed well in Edo State and was confident it would retain the South-South state.
“So to those that think they will take Edo, I want to tell them that it will be difficult for them because we are in a democratic dispensation. We will not make the mistakes we have made before. And this time, there is no announcement of results in the middle of the night,” he stated.
Speaking on the Ondo State election, Damagum said the state faced significant challenges over the years, due to the party’s high-handedness.
“You are now more committed, more resolved. You have a brand new candidate who is so much endowed with wisdom. And, if I can say, his emergence has a hand of God in it. Because, to tell you the fact, we never gave him any opportunity to emerge.
“But because we said, let it be free and fair, he emerged without any blemish. And I believe most of those who contested with him are here today, to show you that we are truly a democratic party.
“We don’t grab. We don’t steal. We work with the people and we open our hands to them and we show them what we will do for them.
“We know their concoction. We know what they do. So for those going to Ondo, you have a very daunting task before you. You have to open and shine your eyes. They will come with all sorts of antics, but this time around, we are ready for them,” he said.
Damagum said they would confront the APC head-on and encouraged party members to exhibit courage and fearlessness.
“We will be here. We will give you all the support and be there for you. And I pray that these two campaign councils will give us the desired results come these two elections.
“I am sure we will take Ondo as well. Edo is already ours. It will remain PDP. Ondo will be for us to take,” he added
The Chairman of Edo PDP Governorship Campaign Council and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, assured that the councils were prepared to win both states for the party.
Finitiri, accompanied by the Chairman of the Ondo State National Campaign Council and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, stressed their commitment to leaving no stone unturned.
“We are ready for Edo and, by extension, Ondo. We will not leave anything to chance. We will leverage Obasaki’s performance. We have low-hanging political fruits in the two states.
“We should go with all seriousness. We will match APC. With technology, rigging is very minimal. PDP has bright chances in the two states.
“Edo has registered over 2,000 since the new registration started. It shows that the people are with us, and all of these will count for our party’s candidate in the election,” he said.