#NigeriaDecides2023: APC Campaign Council Slams LP, PDP Over Claims Of Results Manipulation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has slammed the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) over claims of results manipulation.

The council warned them and other opposition political parties to desist from utterances that could discredit the entire process and instigate violence.

Naija News gathered that the council’s chief spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, in a statement on Sunday told the opposition parties to allow INEC to conduct its statutory responsibility of making an official pronouncement on the winner of the election.

The APC’s reaction follows a claim by the Labour Party Chairman on Sunday that INEC officials were doctoring results in some parts of the federation.

The PDP had also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the APC flagbearer to order because of an alleged report from an unnamed media platform believed to be owned by Tinubu.

The PDP had said the media report was ascribing leadership to Tinubu in some zones of the country, as the collation of election results is ongoing.

However, in response to LP’s claims, Keyamo counter-accused the Labour Party and PDP of lamenting isolated incidents of violence in APC strongholds while ignoring alleged “thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.”

He said “Our attention has been drawn to some incendiary comments by spokespersons of the opposition parties, notably the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) regarding the yet-to-be-announced results of the elections that were held yesterday.

“Some of them have threatened fire and brimstone if their own version of some concocted results is not announced in a bid to be the judge, jury and executioner in this election.

“Similarly, to rile up their supporters against the country, they play up some isolated incidents of violence in our strongholds, whereas we have tons of videos of massive electoral malpractices like violence against non-LP supporters, forcing and guiding women and children to thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.

“In addition, in one breath, one of the spokespersons of the PDP complained about a certain headline in a newspaper about early results, yet, in condemning the newspaper, he also makes unfounded claims about the yet-to-be-released results.

“On our part, we have decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievance (if any) in a lawful manner. But we shall not sit back and allow such unguided comments gain grounds in order to foist a particular narrative on our citizens and the international community.

“Recall that all parties signed the Peace Accord twice before the eyes of the world. Now is the time to abide by the terms of that accord and show love for the country over and above personal ambitions.”