TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY ACTING STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN BENUE STATE, HON. ISAAC TERYILA MFFO, ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FEBRUARY 25TH, 2023 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS, ON FRIDAY, 3RD MARCH, 2023 IN MAKURDI.

Protocols

Gentlemen of the press, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State addresses you on its decision regarding the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held in the state on February 25th, 2023.

Recall that the party had shortly after the said elections issued a statement to the effect that it had mandated its Legal Department to study reports received from its Agents who had been deployed to the over 5000 polling units across the state for the said elections.

And after due consideration of the findings of the Legal Department, it is the position of our great party, the PDP, that the process of conducting both the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Benue State did not conform with the standards stipulated in the enabling laws for the exercise.

It is our considered opinion as a political party and a critical stakeholder in Nigeria's democratic process that provisions of the Electoral Act (2022 As Amended) in Sections 60 (5) and 148 which empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make guidelines for the conduct of the elections were grossly violated.

In this regard, we consider it a matter of grave concern that Clauses 38 and 93 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Election, 2022, which make mandatory the transmission of election results electronically from the polling units to the INEC Server were serially flouted.

The above identified breaches of extant laws raise a fundamental issue of non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, a situation which impinges negatively on the credibility of the election.

Consequently, PDP in Benue State rejects the outcome of both the Presidential and National Assembly elections held in certain local government areas of Benue State on 25th February, 2023, for the reason of the breaches of law cited above.

Our great party calls for the cancellation of the results returned from those local government areas and has duly forwarded a Letter of Protest to INEC to that effect.

We have equally mandated our Legal Department to approach the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja and the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi to challenge the results of the elections in those local government areas as returned and announced by INEC.

Our decision and action in this regard is borne of belief in the sanctity of the electoral process as the sole avenue through which the people may recruit and mandate those to govern over their affairs in the quest for peace, security and prosperity, and the rule of law as the order under which justice, fairness and equity may be guaranteed for all citizens.

There is also the issue of renewed attacks on rural communities across Benue State in Kwande, Logo, Guma, Gwer-West and Agatu local government areas by suspected Fulani herdsmen which have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of properties including farms and consequent displacement of people from their lands.

Those attacks, if not halted by security forces, will further worsen the problem of low voters turnout at the coming Governorship and State Assembly elections slated to hold on 11th March, 2023 across the state.

We call on All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled Buhari regime to rise up to its responsibility by deploying security agents to protect the lives and properties of Benue people from the herdsmen who have terrorised the state for too long.

Lastly, there has been flying over the social media in the last 24 hours a rumour that the Governorship Candidate of our great party, Engr. Titus Tyoapine Uba, has stepped down from the March 11th, 2023 gubernatorial election.

The rumour is a lie fabricated by agents of opposition political parties which are afraid of facing Engr. Titus Uba at the coming polls, and it should be disregarded in totality as our candidate is not just still in the race but far ahead in the lead and most favoured to win and succeed Governor Samuel Ortom at The People's House, Makurdi come May 29th, 2023.

Long Live Benue State

Long Live Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria...

Atoza Timothy- Reporter..