PDP kicks as APC heads for tribunal over Ekiti

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it would challenge some “constitutional breaches” before, during and after the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said at a news conference on Thursday after the inaugural meeting of the national working committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja that the party would go to court, a move that has been criticised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr. Ayo Fayose, the PDP candidate, won the election by a wide margin, defeating the incumbent, APC’s Dr. Kayode Fayemi, by 200,390 votes to 120,433.

TheCable reported on Monday that APC was gathering evidence to challenge the election in court despite Fayemi’s concession speech.

Mohammed said: “APC has decided to challenge in court some constitutional breaches as part of efforts to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti.

“These include the militarisation of the process, and harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition.

“We encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated, to seek the enforcement of their rights.

“Election is a process, and whatever happens on the voting day is only an integral part of that process.

“What happens before, during and after the voting day completes the process.”

He said the events leading to the election day in Ekiti “negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election”.

The APC spokesman said there was need for election management body to ensure continuous improvement of the nation’s electoral system for the sustainability of democracy.

Mohammed, however, commended Fayemi for showing rare sportsmanship by conceding defeat and congratulating Fayose.

“We are very proud of Fayemi for his conduct and comportment before, during and after the election.

“We hail him as a true democrat in the true spirit of the APC’s belief that election is never a do-or-die affair; Nigerians must always be free to elect those who govern them.”

Meanwhile, the PDP has criticised the APC for not accepting the processes and outcome of the Ekiti poll.

National publicity secretary of PDP, Mr Olisa Metuh, said: “APC’s position on the election demonstrates its preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order.”

The election, he said, was widely accepted as one of the freest, fairest and most credible in the country.

“The APC has once again confirmed that it is totally averse to democracy and orderliness.

“It has shown that it is a party of desperate and frustrated individuals promoting a `Janjaweed ideology,” he said.

Metuh noted that the APC was defeated in all the local governments of the state and lost in the polling units and wards of its campaign director-general.

The party added that it was regrettable that in spite of the loss, the APC was bent on fomenting trouble to disrupt the peace in Ekiti state.

“We restate our commendations to security agencies for the roles they played in maintaining law and order and providing level playing ground for all parties before, during and after the election.

“We, however, wish to alert of an orchestrated plot by the APC to now use the instruments of wild allegations and spurious claims to set the stage to unleash mayhem on Ekiti,” he said, alleging that the APC intended to use imported armed thugs to achieve its objectives in this regard.

Metuh urged Nigerians to hold the APC responsible “should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State”.