The Kaduna State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Hassan Hyet, has said that despite the issuance of a Certificate of Return to the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Uba Sani, the opposition party will retrieve it from him in court through the overwhelming evidence of election malpractices that bedeviled the polls.
According to the PDP Chief, “Uba Sani is only holding the certificate in trust for the PDP. By the time we are done with our case in the tribunal, he will hand over the certificate.”
Hyet spoke at a press conference in Kaduna at the weekend, saying, “We met on Thursday and we reaffirm our rejection of the declared results that gave the APC candidate the victory over the PDP candidate.”
He added: “Our determination to retrieve the people’s mandate through legal processes, starting with the application for review of the elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Headquarters, the outcome of which is being awaited.
“We challenge the INEC to leave above board and avoid partisanship as a supposedly independent body and do her work according to its constitutional mandate, as an umpire in election matters of our dear country.
“The PDP expresses dismay that the INEC allowed itself to be a willing tool in short-changing the people of Kaduna State. It is, to say the least, despicable! The party appreciates it teeming supporters and good people of Kaduna State for the support given to the PDP thus far, especially during the Presidential/National Assembly and governorship/state assembly elections. Dispel all rumours going around suggesting a compromise. It is not possible!
“The party has passed a vote of confidence on our candidate, Mohammed Isah Ashiru, and affirms its support in all he is doing to reclaim the snatched seat. We have taken note of unpatriotic members of the party who are now romancing with the APC. Party constitutional procedures will be applied to handle them. We urge the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and prayerful as we enter the legal stage.”