APC dodging service of petition, Edo PDP alleges

The Edo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its members have gone into hiding.

The PDP said that the executive members and officials of the APC are hiding to avoid receiving the service of court papers relating to the petition it (PDP) filed at the tribunal over the results of the recently held governorship election in the state.

Chris Osa Nehikhare, PDP Publicity Secretary in the state in a statement made available to newsmen said “you will recall that on the 19th October 2016, Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, formally filed a petition before the Edo State election petitions tribunal in Benin, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Godwin Obaseki, winner of the September 28 2016 poll.

“You will also recall that Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Interim Governor-Elect Mr Godwin Obaseki, the State Chairman of APC Barrister Anslem Ojezua and some other APC party chieftains boasted that they won the election fair and square and challenged PDP and its candidate to go to the tribunal.

“You will recall that they dismissed the observation, reports and commentary that emanated from the elections, where the mandate freely given to PDP and its candidate was brazenly stolen.

“To our amazement, since the APC heard that PDP had indeed filed a robust and detailed petition at the tribunal, they have put their party secretariat on airport road under lock and key. Even the security man has been warned, barred from showing up at work and all party officials no longer stay in their known residences. In fact, they’ve gone into hiding.

“For a party that claims it won the election and has the mandate of the people, isn’t it curious that they are not celebrating, inaugurating a transition team and interacting with the people that “gave them the mandate”? But instead, they are moving from hotel to hotel under assumed names and under disguise!

“You will also recall that Governor Adams Oshiomhole boasted that he will meet PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in court. I wish to inform Governor Adams Oshiomhole that we are indeed in court now and so he should come out”, the statement said.

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