The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), umbrella organisation
of all registered political parties and associations in Nigeria, has
rejected the process and whatever is the outcome of the Saturday’s local
government election in the Benue State, describing it an “unprecedented
rape of democracy and rubbishing of every tenet of free, fair and credible
election at the local government level”.
The CNPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu,
while demanding for its cancellation, observed that “the process was
tailored by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) and
the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) and Governor Samuel Ortom to
produce APC Chairmen in the state irrespective of the people’s choice.
“The Voters apathy marred the election in all 23 Local Government Areas of
Benue State on Saturday, which resulted in low turnout of voters across
the state clearly indicate that the people rejected the process and a
remarkable statement that the election outcome is a fraud.
“We, therefore, call on the National Assembly, the international community
and all well-meaning Nigerians to take note of the unprecedented rape of
democracy and rubbishing of every tenet of free, fair and credible
election at the local government level through electoral process
manipulation by the Governor Samuel Ortom led administration.
“For us, no election took place in Benue on Saturday and we demand
immediate cancellation of the election”, the CNPP stated.