PDP: Many Things Went Wrong at FCT Polls
• Saraki tasks members on deepening party’s growth in Kwara
Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, has expressed disappointment with the recently concluded FCT Area Council election, stating that numerous aspects of the process were flawed.
Ememobong made this statement during a television programme monitored in Abuja.
The FCT area council election, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend, resulted in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) securing five councils, while the PDP won in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Reacting, the national spokesman of the PDP said, “A lot of things went wrong in that election and preparatory to it. The curfew, which all critical stakeholders had said was absolutely unnecessary, having a 22-hour curfew before an election, could also have had an impact.
“There was also dissonance between what the minister said and what the FCT police command said.
“At the end of the day, the minister is not a voter in the FCT, but he was on parade. We need to remind Mr Minister (Wike) that he is not the governor of the FCT. The crowd he was carrying alone could compromise election integrity, and there are many factors we need to fix.
“If this is a foreshadowing of what 2027 would be, opposition parties are already meeting and will soon come out with a joint position. Elections cannot just be a date on the calendar; elections must reflect the will of the people.”
Meanwhile, a former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged the members of the PDP to continue to strengthen and deepen the party’s growth in order to ensure the electoral success of the party in next year’s general election in the state.
Saraki stated this in Ilorin, yesterday, in a statement issued by his Local Press Officer, Mallam Abdulqadir Abdulganiyu while hosting another round of Iftar with party leaders, ward executives and stakeholders from Ilorin West local government area of the state.
The Ramadan outreach cut across Kwara State, aiming at strengthening ties with party faithful and the wider community during the holy month.
The statement stated that, the engagement was part of Saraki’s deliberate effort to maintain close interaction with party members and citizens throughout Ramadan, while encouraging unity, devotion, and service to the spiritual period among the people.
“Following the breaking of fast, the Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin, joined worshippers for the Ishai prayer and the daily congregational Taraweeh, in keeping with his tradition of observing the spiritual period among the people,” it stated.
Saraki, therefore, urged the members of the PDP to continue with their membership drive that would assist the party to emerge victorious in the future polls in the state.
He commended party executives, stakeholders, and members across the state for their steadfast commitment to the growth and stability of the party.
He encouraged them to remain dedicated and assured them that those who continued to work diligently for the party would be duly recognised and rewarded.
