The All Progressives Congress, (APC) has rejected the outcome of the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections in the South-South states.
National vice chairman of the party in the zone, Ntufam Hillard Eta, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) connived with the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to deny it of victory.
Tribune Online checks revealed that in the four South-South states, the PDP governors were returned in Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states where Udom Emmanuel and Victor Ayade won fresh mandates. Delta state governor, Peter Okowa also defeated his main rival, Great Ogboru of the PDP.
In Rivers State, the INEC suspended the process as a result of disruption of voting and counting of votes by hoodlums.
But even as the APC fielded no candidate for elective offices in Rivers State, Hillard Eta described the process as lacking in credibility.
The APC zonal chairman in the south south zone said the results of the weekend election did not reflect the wishes of the people in his zone.
The statement read in part:”
“We have observed with great disappointment the ugly developments In the just concluded Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections held on Saturday 9th of March, 2019, and the subsequent release of results by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) for States of the South South geopolitical zone; viz: Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta states.
“We wish to categorically state that the results released by INEC are not a reflection of the wishes and will of the people as they expressed at various polling units. We have received several complaints to the effect that In areas where our great Party held sway and won the elections at the unit levels, the various returning officers of the States, In connivance with agents of the POP, will cancel results of such areas of our strength.
“There are also reports that where elections could not hold due to violence, results are announced In favour of the PDP.
Furthermore, In some units where the card readers failed, results are also allocated to such areas and subsequently announced In favour of the PDP. “Sadly, there are reported cases of ballot box snatching in areas of APC strongholds, results are announced In favour of the PDP. It Is incomprehensible that INEC could allow themselves to be so used to usurp the collective of the people and this Is equated to a brazen and broad day light robbery, and this is unacceptable.
“In view these obvious and aforementioned anomalies and double standards. The All Progressives Congress (APC) In the South South geopolitical zone, outrightly reject in its entirety the results declared by INEC for Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta States respectively. We will do everything legitimately right to ensure that this injustice would not stand and the perpetrators are brought to book.
“We call on INEC to speedily complete the process of conducting free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, in order to calm frayed nerves and douse unnecessary tensions. We wish to use to medium to call on our teeming members, supporters and youths to remain calm and not take the laws into their hands in the face of this attempt of injustice.”
and then