By Chesa Chesa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday accused the main opposition parties in the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kogi State – Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – of instigating violence and chaos following their loss to the APC.
National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, urged the police to take note and act decisively against what he described as incendiary and dangerous rhetorics by both parties and their gubernatorial candidates, who he hinted are behind the recent orgy of violence in Kogi State.
He stated that there was no need to bring down the roof on Kogi when the election substantially complied with electoral laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Morka condemned the PDP candidate, Dino Melaye, for expressing lack of confidence in the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and advising opposition parties to boycott future polls.
“Dino should know that participating in an election is a democratic right. Boycotting an election is also a democratic right. Dino is free to choose his democratic right but we hope he chooses wisely.
“That he chose not to vote for himself in the Kogi gubernatorial election did not stop the election process from going ahead in accordance with the Constitution. He cannot stop our democratic train from leaving the station or going on course of its journey to consolidation.
“He cannot hold back participation by the wonderful people of Kogi state by his infantile outbursts and irrational and vain charges against the APC, INEC and our judiciary.
“On his part, the candidate of the SDP, Murtala Ajaka, stated, on national television, that he will not challenge the election, for reasons similar to that advanced by his opposition counterpart, Dino, that has no confidence in the judiciary, especially as INEC will be a potential witness in the case to justify the outcome of the election.
“In a sudden u-turn, Ajaka, is now reported to have changed his mind and now intends to bring a petition before the Election Petition Tribunal, even though, it appears that he is out time to validly do so. However, we will leave that for determination by the courts.
“This is all against the backdrop of INEC’s declaration of the APC candidate, Ahmed Usman Ododo, who polled 446,237, as winner of the Kogi State election, with Muritala Ajaka of SDP polling 259,052, and Dino Melaye of PDP polling 46,362. Ajaka and Dino rejected the election results, citing alleged irregularities”, Morka stated.
The APC spokesman recalled the latest violent incidents in the wake of the elections and stated that they could not have been caused by the party that convincingly won the poll.
“We condemn, as dangerous, the incendiary rhetoric of opposition figures in Kogi state who continue to inflame passion and incite strife. Their actions and utterances provide a charged atmosphere for escalation of violence in the state.
“We especially condemn the reported attack against the Secretary of the Election Tribunal, Mike Umar David, on Monday, December 4, 2023, in very spurious circumstances.
“The SDP clearly has a lot of explaining to do regarding this incident. Their utterances and actions, prior to, and since, that incident, betray suspicious special knowledge of the incident.
“Prior to Monday’s incident involving the Tribunal’s Secretary, the residence of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Hale Longpet, was also attacked on Friday, December 1, 2023 by armed hoodlums.
“These and other acts of violence in Kogi state are barbaric, undemocratic and unacceptable. The people of Kogi State deserve to live in peace and security. These sponsored and senseless acts of violence must stop”, Morka added.
