The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern statement urging Yiaga Africa, a civil society organization accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to refrain from undermining the results of the recent Edo state gubernatorial election.
The APC claims that Yiaga Africa is overstepping its role by attempting to second-guess INEC, the sole authority responsible for the conduct and declaration of election results.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC criticized Yiaga Africa for allegedly making unsubstantiated claims of electoral manipulation, describing its report as flawed and lacking credible evidence.
The party emphasized that election observer missions do not have the mandate to declare or challenge results declared by INEC, asserting that such actions violate both the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution.
The APC called on Yiaga Africa to refrain from creating confusion and a parallel election process, likening its actions to past incidents of electoral misconduct. The party praised the Edo electorate for decisively choosing Senator Monday Okpebholo as the new governor, framing the election outcome as a rejection of the previous administration’s governance.
Furthermore, the APC expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for fostering a conducive electoral environment and to INEC for its professionalism during the election. Any disputes regarding the election results, the party noted, should be addressed through the proper legal channels.
