EnglishThe All Progressives Congress has warned civil society group Yiaga Africa against undermining the Independent National Electoral Commission by questioning the results of the recently concluded Edo State gubernatorial election.
In a press release issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Tuesday, the APC criticised Yiaga Africa for allegedly attempting to question the authority of INEC.
Morka described the group’s actions as overstepping its election observation mandate.
“Yiaga Africa has overstepped its election observation mandate by questioning INEC over the results of the Edo State gubernatorial election last Saturday.
English “INEC is the sole legal body to conduct and announce the election results.
Yiaga Africa is not and must refrain from establishing itself as a parallel body to announce the election results,” Morka said.
The party also accused the civil society organization of making baseless allegations of manipulation of the results, saying the allegations lack evidence and are based on mere speculation.
“To claim that the results were manipulated without concrete facts and figures and based on statistical conjecture is detrimental to the electoral process.
The Yiaga Africa report is a farce, riddled with methodological flaws, politicized observations, contradictions and inaccuracies,” Morka added.
English This would constitute a flagrant violation of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Declaring or questioning the outcome of the Edo State governorship poll based on unsubstantiated, unverified and highly questionable statistical parameters fabricated by Yiaga Africa with the aim of creating unnecessary confusion.
» Meanwhile, the APC has expressed gratitude to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring a fair electoral process and commended INEC and law enforcement agencies for their professionalism in the election.
He reiterated the party’s belief that the election results represent the will of the people of Edo who voted Senator Monday Okpebholo as the next governor.
Morka French said: “The APC reiterates its appreciation to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring a level playing field, INEC for its professionalism and the law enforcement agencies for their diligence and service throughout the election.
“By their votes, the good people of Edo State have clearly chosen Senator Monday Okpebholo as the next governor to usher the state into a new era of peace, unity, people-centered development and prosperity for all.
» The APC also reminded all stakeholders that legal disputes over the election results must be resolved through the courts in accordance with the established electoral process.
On Monday, Yiaga Africa criticised the conduct of the election, saying the process and the results announced lacked integrity.
The organization has denounced widespread irregularities, including manipulation of results by vote counting agents.
