Kola Ologbodiyan

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to petition the United Nations  over the role played by the Nigerian military in the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Rising from an Expanded Caucus Meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Monday, PDP disclosed that other global democratic institutions will also be petitioned on the alleged unprofessional role played by the military during the polls.

Briefing reporters shortly after the meeting that lasted about four hours, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the petition will detail what it described as the unconstitutional militarization of the elections.

“Caucus further noted the role of the military in the February 23 election and resolved that we will report the action of the military through a petition to the United Nations as well as other global democratic institutions on the role of our military in the February 23 election.

“Caucus further raised issues about the harassment, intimidation and cajoling of our members on the plot by the Buhari Presidency as well as APC to intimidate the people’s President, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the resolve of the PDP to go to court by insisting, blackmailing and saying that he should not go to court.

“Caucus commended Nigerians for refusing the harassment, intimidation and militarization of the electoral process and participating in the election but noted that the mandate that was freely given to our candidate was stolen and as such the party and the candidate jointly resolved to go to the tribunal and reaching the end of what is permissible within our legal system to get back our mandate on behalf of Nigerians.

“Caucus also reviewed the situation in Kano State particularly as it concerned the court decision and noted that an appeal had been filed against the judgment and we will continue to study and follow the situation as they arise.

“On the forthcoming governorship election, we decry the militarization of the South-South and the rigging which the APC is plotting ahead of the election.

“We urge Nigerians to come out en masse and participate in the election and ensure they vote for the candidates of the PDP,” Ologbondiyan said.

Some of the party chieftains who attended the meeting included the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubabar; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, Senators Dino Melaye and Philip Aduda.

Others included a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Wali Jibril, a former governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada among others.