2023: Protect Your Votes At All Cost, PDP Tells Supporters In Sokoto
BY ANKEI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Ahead of the March 11 governorship election, the Sokoto State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Hon Bello Aliyu Goronyo has appealed to supporters of the party to ensure that they come out en mass to protect their votes against manipulations.
Goronyo, who insisted that, they will no longer seat and watch while the opposition party uses security agencies to rob them of their rights, added that, the time to stand up and defend their votes against all odds has come.
Addressing mammoth crowd of PDP supporters at the International Conference center, Kasarawa, the State PDP chairman admonished party loyalists to go all out prepared to stand by their votes.
Collaborating the position of the State party chairman, the youth leader of the party, Mustapha Binji, said youths and women constitutes the bulk of the voting strength and energy, adding they must therefore strive to ensure that their votes are not tampered with.
Giving his perspective at the party stakeholders meeting, Shetiman Goronyo, said the forthcoming governorship election will be fire for fire.
Expressing her anger over what she discribed as deliberate connivance with the relevant security agencies in the February 25th presidential election, the State Women Leader of PDP, Hajiya Kulu Rabah admonished women to ensure that no amount of intimidation scares them away from defending there votes.
Speaking for all the local government chairmen, the Staye ALGON chairman, Hon Mustapha Shehu promised that there respective localities will be highly protected.
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On his part, the State PDP Local Govermnet chairmen Forum leader, Hon. Ibrahim Maishago said, they are not scared of anybody and are ready to even pay the price for a peaceful election.
He however added that, where the opposite becomes the case, they are equally ready to face the challenge.
Towing the path of their collective resolutions, Hon. Abdulahi Balarabe Salame told PDP stakeholders at the gathering that even the
religion of Islam allows for self defense.
“We are going to frustrate any useless elder that is held bent on destroying our cherished culture, peace and harmonious relationship.
‘We are therefore sending strong warnings to those in that train to be very careful as we are now very aware of their antics. And we are always ready to match them strength for strength, except otherwise, they choose to embrace peaceful conduct which we stands for”‘. Hon. Salame noted.
Infusing more anger into the scenario, the PDP zonal vice chairman, Sokoto North, Hon Mohammdu Dangogo accused the Nigerian police of compromise, saying if they are not ready to protect their integrity by being fair to all, they will equally come prepared for the worst.
Another speaker, Abdullahi Kiriyo Yabo accused INEC of same compromise saying, they should be warned henceforth against a repetition of such nonsense or have them to content with in a legitimate way.
“”Let it be known to them and their pay masters that, any attempt at disenfranchising our members will not be tolerated”.
Bringing new twist to the fore, former deputy governor, Mukhtari Shagari, said wining election is not as easy as expected if not done in a free and fair atmosphere.
“‘This therefore becomes the basis for which we, as PDP members must know that, “No Retreat, No Surrender”, as the issue of inconclusive is no longer strange to us. We must know that this is a task for all of us, for our future, and our cherished culture.
“”We must all deliver the state like always. The plan of the opposition party in conjunction with their leaders in Sokoto is to ensure that they use everything within their reach to frustrate our governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. But I am assuring you all that, it will not be possible. We will not allow that”, Shagari noted
The State Campaign DG and former Minister of Transport, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman, said, they must not allow APC to rub them of there victory anytime any
Delivering the message of PDP governorship candidate, Hon Saidu Umar, through his running mate, Hon. Sagir Bafarawa, he unearth the various alleged manipulation strategies of the APC which according to him, ranges from disrupting elections in areas considered as PDP strongholds to facilitate cancellations, and falsifying claims that BVAS is faulty”.
The State deputy governor, Manir Dan’Iya accused the APC of using the Nigerian Police, the Army and paid thugs as well to disrupt elections where the PDP is leading.
Recapping the massages passed by the various speakers, the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambueal urged supporters to follow the path of the religion by ensuring that they protect their interest.
“”I am urging all of you to take every necessary measures to ensure that we are not deprived.
“”Arrest anybody causing troubles. Do not leave polling units until your votes are counted and ensure that you follow it to the last point so that they will not be tampered with”‘. Tambuwal advised.
