APC Responds to Yiaga Africa's Claims on Edo Gubernatorial Election

'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja 

DAILY COURIER – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized civil society organization Yiaga Africa for what it describes as an attempt to second-guess the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the outcome of the September 21, 2024, Edo State gubernatorial election. In a statement released on Tuesday, Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, accused Yiaga Africa of overstepping its role as an election observer and attempting to undermine the credibility of INEC.

Yiaga Africa, a prominent election monitoring body, had raised concerns about the election results, alleging irregularities and manipulation. However, Morka argued that Yiaga Africa’s claims lacked hard evidence and were based on "statistical guesswork." He emphasized that INEC remains the sole authority empowered by law to conduct and declare election results in Nigeria, and warned that Yiaga Africa’s report contained "methodological flaws, politicized observations, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies," which called its credibility into question.

"Yiaga Africa is not, and must desist from constituting itself into, a parallel agency for the declaration of election results," the statement read. Morka reiterated that election observer missions are meant to provide observations and feedback on the election process, but are not empowered to announce or challenge the results declared by INEC. He called Yiaga Africa’s actions "a clear disservice to the electoral process" and accused the organization of creating unnecessary confusion with its unverified claims.

APC also took the opportunity to commend INEC for its professionalism during the election and praised the law enforcement agencies for their diligence in ensuring a peaceful process. Morka noted that any legitimate grievances regarding the election should now be directed to the courts, where disputes can be adjudicated according to Nigeria’s legal and electoral framework.

The APC’s statement also highlighted the broader significance of the election results, framing the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo as an overwhelming endorsement of the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Morka argued that the election was a rejection of the previous administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was accused of poor governance, and signified the public’s support for the "transformative policies" implemented by the Tinubu government.

"The good people of Edo State were loud and clear in their choice of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the next Governor," the APC statement declared, adding that Okpebholo’s leadership would usher in a new era of peace, unity, and prosperity for the state.

In concluding, the APC urged Yiaga Africa to refrain from tarnishing its reputation by continuing to question INEC’s results, and instead respect the legal processes available for contesting electoral outcomes. The statement also made a pointed reference to Governor Godwin Obaseki and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, accusing them of past election misconduct, and warned Yiaga Africa not to follow the same path of undermining the democratic process.

As the dust settles on the Edo gubernatorial election, the APC has made it clear that it will defend the integrity of the process and the mandate given to Senator Okpebholo by the people of Edo State.