By Abiola Olawale
The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Yiaga Africa over its stance on the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
This is as the party alleged that Yiaga Africa is now participating in active politics.
According to a press statement issued by the APC on Wednesday, Yiaga Africa is allegedly working with the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo to discredit the Edo State Governorship election.
The party also admonished Yiaga Africa, a non-profit organization, not to derail from its stated objectives, or risk going into oblivion.
The statement reads in part: “It is now quite obvious that Yiaga Africa has decided to take sides with the defeated PDP, which will be of no surprise to keen observers of unfolding political events in Edo State.
“They have decided to deviate from being objective monitors of the September 21, Edo Governorship election, right from before, during and after the exercise.
“This is for whatever reason that may be yet unknown to the people of the Edo State, who trooped out on the day of the election, to give their votes to the APC and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebolo, thereby rejecting Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with their candidate, Asuen Ighodalo.
“It is quite clear that the PDP has become the sore loser, but while Yiaga Africa will act in a suit is most unfortunate. We, therefore, call on the leadership of the organization to act responsibly and stick to its mandate if they are to retain the respect of Nigerians, or else they self-obliterate.
“It is also needless advising Yiaga Africa that it risks running itself out of existence, just like several others before it, who chose to tread the path of dishonour.
“It is only quite easy to lose relevance when a supposed election monitoring body chose to become political and appear to be smarting from false unattainment of electoral projections.”
The New Diplomat reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship candidate of the APC, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the Saturday, September 21 election.
According to official results, Okpebholo polled a total of 291,667 votes to beat his closest contender, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates contested the seat but got less than the three frontline candidates.
Following the declaration, Yiaga Africa faulted the conduct of the poll and the declared results as lacking integrity.
Recall that Yiaga Africa, one of the accredited observers of the Edo governorship election, said it discredited the election on account of alleged widespread irregularities.
