The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the outcome of the August 16 bye-election for the Okura State Constituency in Dekina Local Government Area, calling for an outright cancellation and a fresh poll.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the PDP State Chairman, Enemona Anyebe, expressed deep dissatisfaction over the conduct of the election, citing reports of irregularities and widespread voter disenfranchisement.
According to the party, voting did not take place in multiple polling units across the constituency, while in some locations, electoral materials were either unavailable or inaccessible, undermining the credibility of the process.
The party further questioned the credibility of the declared results, pointing out that the figures announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were starkly at odds with established voting patterns.
INEC announced 55,073 votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 1,038 for the PDP. However, the opposition party argued that the figures were inconsistent with the 2023 general election results and cast doubt on the likelihood of such a high turnout amid reports of low voter participation.
The PDP called on the electoral commission to carry out a transparent review of the exercise and urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to take decisive measures to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
“As a responsible political party, we have remained calm and restrained in our response because we believe democracy must thrive without conflict,” the statement added.
