The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it will not surrender the mandate given to it by the people in states where it won in the last general elections.

A statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in Abuja on Sunday that it would use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces by the governing party, the All Progressives Party (APC), to subvert the will of the people in PDP-controlled states.

It listed the states as Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and others.

“No matter the strong-arming, threats and manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never surrender the mandate freely given to us by the peoples.

“Neither are the people in the states where we won willing to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of their affairs.”

It accused the APC-led government of manipulating sensitive agencies of state like the judiciary and the security to take over 'the rich states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta.

“This is totally against the spirit of democracy and peace bestowed by the PDP in conceding defeat at the presidential election.’’

The party maintained that “the prejudiced rulings by the Rivers and Akwa Ibom states governorship elections tribunals, with their inherent contradictions, were direct fallout of interference from the APC.”

It added that it was also the direct fallout of interference of some elements within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal.

It, however, cautioned against any interference in Rivers and Akwa Ibom cases at the appeal level.

It also cautioned against any further intrusion in the Abia, Taraba and Delta governorship election tribunals, which it added the APC was already boasting of controlling.

“The PDP says such would be a clear invitation to chaos in the land.

“In the last five months, after conceding defeat at the presidential elections and other polls where we lost, Nigerians were witnesses to the fact that the PDP has remained calm.

“We remain steadfast to its commitment to providing mature, decent and civil opposition with more interest in the peace, unity and corporate interest of our dear nation.”

The statement added that the ruling party and the government were manipulating PDP victory in some states.

“The APC’s definition of credible election is that the governorship elections in Imo, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos and Yobe are all credible.”

The statement wondered why the APC believed that election in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia were rigged and must by all means be annulled.

It said that the PDP was able, willing and ready to call up its members and supporters to use all means within the limits provided by the laws to resist plans to decimate the party.

“The peace we seek is not that of a graveyard, it is such as guaranteed by a well-recognised democratic system.

“It is a democratic system that treats all as equals before the law, irrespective of partisan and political affiliations.”

The statement called on the members of the party and lovers of democracy to rise up and protect the nation's democracy.

It called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to save the nation’s democracy and the institution of the judiciary.

The party urged Mohammed to immediately check the “negative actions emanating from elements operating within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Chief Olisa Metuh.

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