The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the unprecedented crowd that surged at the official flag-off of its governorship campaign in Lokoja, Kogi state capital on Friday, despite threats of violence by the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a resounding declaration by the people that nothing would stop it from kicking Governor Yahaya Bello out of office on November 16.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the party explained that the crowd was also “an unmistaken demonstration of the fact that Kogi remains a home to the PDP, which will further manifest in PDP’s landslide victory at the November 16 election”.
According to the statement: “The party notes that the earthshaking jubilation and ovations that greeted the PDP candidate, Engr Musa Wada and his running mate, Hon Sam Aro, established the people’s confidence and preference for the PDP and its candidate, over and above Yahaya Bello, who has failed them on all fronts.
“The PDP has been made aware of the gloom, hopelessness and dejection in the Bello camp, which is depleting by the day, following Engr Wada’s soaring popularity and acceptability across the voting demography across Kogi state.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is gradually coming to terms with the fact that he will soon found himself standing alone to face his inevitable prize for failure and disdain for the people of Kogi state.
“Governor Bello now knows that the people of Kogi state cannot be intimidated by threats of violence neither can they be bought, enticed or beguiled with filthy offers. They have since made up their minds to repay Bello in his own coin for the pain and anguish he inflicted on them in the last four years and nothing can change this resolve
“The only thing that is collectively paramount to the people of Kogi state is that Yahaya Bello is voted out to make way for a purposeful, people-oriented and transparent administration under Engr Wada.”
The Party commended the people of Kogi state “for their unity, resilience and courage in the face of machinations, threats, assaults and manipulations by the sinking Yahaya Bello and the APC”.
It also commended the patriotism of members of the APC that have crossed over to the PDP in the last few weeks, to queue behind Engr. Wada, having realised that the liberation and repositioning of Kogi state in the interest of the people could only be attained through the PDP and Engr Wada.
It, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security forces to resist the shenanigans of the APC and remain on the side of truth and fairness as Kogites would never accept any process that “does not reflect their will and aspiration in this election