BAT said i’ll give Edo to you and backed it up with I’m commander-in-chief of Armed forces-Rev. Olu Martins,

The campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has publicly blamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the controversial results of the recent gubernatorial election in Edo State. During a media briefing in Benin, Rev. Olu Martins, the Deputy Director-General of the council, expressed the party’s strong discontent with the election process, which they characterized as a manipulation rather than a legitimate democratic exercise.

In a report by PM News, Martins expressed concerns that President Tinubu aims to consolidate power by transforming Nigeria into a one-party state. He described the situation as a “state capture,” alleging that security forces and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were compromised to facilitate the ruling party’s agenda. This assertion underscores the PDP’s belief that the election was not conducted fairly or transparently.

He further accused Tinubu of directly enabling electoral malpractice by claiming he would ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in Edo. Martins described this statement as an invitation to chaos, suggesting that it indicated a disregard for democratic principles. The PDP contends that such remarks from the president set a dangerous precedent for electoral integrity in Nigeria.

Martins emphasized that the real contest during the election was not between the PDP and the APC, but rather against the security forces, particularly the Nigeria Police and INEC, which he claims collaborated to undermine the electoral process. This perspective highlights the party’s frustration with what they perceive as systemic issues that prevent fair competition.

Despite initially feeling optimistic about their chances of winning the election, Martins described a sudden turn of events during the collation process. He recounted that the PDP was confident of victory, believing they could win by a significant margin. However, the emergence of security personnel at the collation center shifted the dynamics, leading to concerns about the legitimacy of the final results.

Martins stated that the PDP will continue to advocate for democracy and accountability in the electoral process. He expressed a commitment to identifying those responsible for the perceived electoral misconduct, which he described as a system operating on the whims of a single individual. Furthermore, he reiterated that he does not recognize Monday Okpebholo as his governor, underscoring the party’s stance on the flawed election process that led to his assumption of office.

According to him, “We hold the president of Nigeria responsible for this sham that happened in Edo State. Because when he made that unstatemanly statement that ‘I will give Edo State to you,’ and he backed it up that I am the president and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was a clear invitation for anarchy.”